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Former England international Shaun Wright-Phillips has named who he believes will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup -Credit:Michael Regan/Getty Images
Former England international Shaun Wright-Phillips has admitted he is picking against his own country in this summer's FIFA World Cup.
Wright-Phillips, who earned 36 caps for England, including three appearances at the 2010 World Cup, reluctantly overlooked his home nation when selecting his pick to claim the top prize at this summer's tournament.
England comes in among the favorites to lift the World Cup trophy for the first time since 1966, but will have to survive top-rated challengers, including France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil, to achieve that goal. Before the tournament kicks off, Wright-Phillips shared his prediction for how far the USMNT will advance in the 2026 World Cup.
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Thomas Tuchel will be looking to guide England to their first World Cup final since 1966 -Credit:Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
"I hate this question because, of course, I want England to win," Wright-Phillips exclusively told Mirror U.S. Sports when asked to predict who will win the 2026 World Cup.
"But if I'm being totally honest, I still see France as the main team. If England can avoid France and get them in a one-off game in the final, I reckon we win it. But France is the one team that I feel could be a problem if we came up against them."
Wright-Phillips has good reason to be cautious about backing his own national team. For decades, England has come up short at major international tournaments like the World Cup and Euros despite being among the leading contenders for the trophy.
Most recently, at the 2022 World Cup, they lost to France 2-1 in the quarterfinals, a game in which star striker Harry Kane missed a potential game-tying penalty kick with six minutes to go.
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Since claiming their only World Cup title in 1966, England has failed to reach the final and has advanced to the semifinals on just two occasions in 11 attempts.
Now, heading into 2026, belief has been restored that England can go all the way in their first major tournament under the stewardship of Thomas Tuchel.
Despite scrutiny over the manager's squad selections – with high-profile omissions including Cole Palmer and Phil Foden – England once again enters the competition as one of the frontrunners for World Cup glory.
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