I'm American and Afraid to Admit It: England Can Win the World Cup
I’ve been watching for the United States Men and Women’s National Teams for my entire life.
I’m 34 and segment my life’s achievements through the timeline of the World Cup.
I remember being 10 and watching the USMNT beat Portugal in South Korea in a gigantic upset to start the 2002 World Cup.
My first sports memory might be in 1998 when the USWNT beat China in the World Cup Finals on penalty kicks.
And through all these years, there’s been one constant, regardless of how good or bad the American team has been: I’ve never been afraid of England winning the World Cup.
Be it men or women’s, I have always had a confidence that somehow, someway, they either didn’t have the team capable of winning it all or a fatal flaw that could keep them from the trophy. Even eight years ago when they made the semifinals, I was confident that if they had beaten Croatia, France would have taken care of them.
But on the seventh day of the 2026 World Cup in my home country, I have a secret to admit.
One that I didn’t think I would ever say.
This England team can definitely win the World Cup.
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On Wednesday, England beat the Croatia team that beat them in the semifinals eight years ago by a score of 4-2. And you could say they were unlucky to only score four goals, as they could have easily put five or six into the net.
When the game started and Harry Kane missed a penalty in the opening minutes, it felt like it might be the same ole’ England. They’d grind out a draw, make it to the knockouts, and then get eliminated in a tragic way.
But then the penalty got called back due to Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic moving his feet before Kane connected with the ball. Kane came back, brushed off the first attempt, and scored, beginning what was an offensive flurry for the team.
Thomas Tuchel has the team playing proactively and creatively, looking like you’d expect from a World Cup favorite.
While their defense might need to sharpen as the tournament goes along, both Croatian goals came from excellent plays that any squad at the World Cup would have had trouble stopping.
This England team has the players. They have the manager. They have the superstar in Kane. They have the young force in Jude Bellingham. It’s all there.
There are other tournament favorites that have shown me they can win the World Cup, but if you don’t have England amongst those names, then you might look foolish come mid-July in New Jersey.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 3:42 PM.