Renowned former England international Gary Lineker has offered a candid assessment of the international football landscape, suggesting that two specific nations currently hold a competitive edge over the Three Lions ahead of the 2026 World Cup. While acknowledging England’s status as a top-tier contender, the iconic striker pointed toward Spain and France as the teams most likely to secure the global title.
The tournament represents a historic opportunity for manager Thomas Tuchel, who is tasked with ending a six-decade drought to bring the trophy back to England for the first time since 1966. Despite the immense expectations surrounding the English squad, Lineker—a man who famously secured the Golden Boot at the 1986 edition of the tournament—believes the road to victory will require overcoming the tactical superiority of their European neighbors.
During a recent analytical discussion on The Rest is Football podcast, the broadcaster broke down the current hierarchy of world football, weighing the odds of the traditional powerhouses against his personal observations of squad depth and form.
“The World Cup is getting very close now,” Lineker, who was the 1986 World Cup top goalscorer, said on The Rest is Football podcast.
“I know Spain are actually the bookies’ favourites, closely followed by England, France, Argentina and Brazil. I think they’re the big five.
“But I’m going with Spain. England are definitely one of the frontrunners but I think Spain have to be favourites ahead of us, personally I think France too.”
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