Owen Hargreaves and Martin Keown agreed with each other as they predicted France to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The pundits also did not rate England’s chances very high.
Predictions about who will win the FIFA World Cup this summer are rife, with less than a week left for the tournament to kick off. Hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this marks the first World Cup with 48 participating nations. Unsurprisingly, both England and France remain among the top contenders to win the tournament. The Three Lions will look to end a six-decade wait for their second title. Meanwhile, France could make it to their third consecutive World Cup final this time, having won it last in 2018.
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In a panel discussion on TNT Sports, Owen Hargreaves shared his prediction for the FIFA World Cup, backing France to win the title. Hargreaves agreed with Martin Keown, who also backed Les Blues. When asked for their predictions, here’s how the conversation went:
Keown: I think France. Yeah. [to Hargreaves] Are you going to go England?
Hargreaves: I don’t think England will win it. No, I am going to go with France. Yeah.
If France wins the title, it will be a historic achievement. They will have played the World Cup final three times in a row and win their third title in history. It will also be their second time winning the FIFA World Cup under coach Didier Deschamps. With a stellar squad boasting names like Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Michael Olise, Les Blues remain a major favorite to achieve the feat.
Will England win the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Weighing their chances ahead of the tournament
Given the amount of talent in the England national team, they will always remain among the favorites to win the FIFA World Cup. With an experienced coach like Thomas Tuchel on the helm, the Three Lions could have a fair chance at the tournament if they are able to deliver as expected.
England’s biggest strength is its midfield, boasting names like Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Kobbie Mainoo, and Elliot Anderson. Tuchel stirred a controversy by excluding both Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from the squad, but the midfield still looks stacked for the World Cup.
Moreover, Harry Kane is in exceptional form right now. The Bayern Munich superstar has scored 61 goals in 51 games across competitions for the Bavarian giants, winning the European Golden Boot. If Kane can deliver at the highest stage, the Three Lions will undoubtedly get a major boost. He will be supported on the wings by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins.
However, one area that can be of concern for the Three Lions is their backline. They lack good ball-playing centre-backs in their squad, especially since Tuchel decided to exclude Harry Maguire from his squad. He might miss Maguire’s ability to distribute the ball, especially against high-pressing teams. Another big miss would be the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could be significant for his crossing and passing ability.
Edited by Pratyasha Sarkar
