England heads into the 2026 World Cup as one of the favorites, looking to lift the trophy for the first time since winning it in 1966 on home soil. The Three Lions were knocked out by France in the 2022 World Cup and have finished runner-up in back-to-back European championships.

FIFA changed the draw for 2026 to create separate pathways to the semifinals for the four-highest ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France and England. That means if Spain and Argentina win their groups, the world's Nos. 1 and 2 teams can not meet prior to the final.