Tuchel: England Not World Cup 2026 Favorites, But Aim High

England coach Thomas Tuchel downplayed his team's favorite status for the 2026 World Cup, asserting that the Three Lions are challengers rather than top contenders. Despite England being among the highly anticipated teams alongside Spain, France, Brazil, Portugal, and defending champions Argentina, Tuchel pointed to the team's 58-year wait for a world title since 1966 as a reason to temper expectations.

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We are not the main favorites. We cannot be called favorites because we haven't won this tournament for a very long time.

"We are not the main favorites. We cannot be called favorites because we haven't won this tournament for a very long time," Tuchel said during a press conference in Florida. He suggested that nations with more recent championship successes are better positioned to be considered favorites. However, he affirmed England's ambition to compete for the trophy and advance as far as possible.

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We compete for the trophy. We dream big and want to go as far as possible. But I see us as challengers, not main favorites.

Tuchel highlighted England's recent tournament performances, including reaching the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, the quarterfinals in 2022, and two consecutive European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate, as evidence of the team's quality. "These results are very relevant. If you can reach the Euro final, the World Cup semifinals and quarterfinals, it means you are very close. Sometimes it only takes a little luck to become champions," he noted.

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These results are very relevant. If you can reach the Euro final, the World Cup semifinals and quarterfinals, it means you are very close. Sometimes it only takes a little luck to become champions.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining focus throughout the tournament, likening the journey to the summit to a gradual ascent. "If you want to reach the top of the mountain, you have to go from one base camp to the next. If you think too far about the final goal, you can lose focus," Tuchel explained. He also declined to comment on off-field controversies, including a report about a Somali referee being denied entry to the United States, stating his gratitude to the English Football Association for allowing him to concentrate solely on coaching and football matters.

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If you want to reach the top of the mountain, you have to go from one base camp to the next. If you think too far about the final goal, you can lose focus.