Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp has claimed that England will have to make a deep run into the World Cup to deem the tournament a success this summer.

The Three Lions are already based in North America for the competition, with Thomas Tuchel naming his 26-man squad that is aiming to win the competition for just the second time in the nation’s history.

After reaching two consecutive European Championship finals, as well as a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final, there is some hope that England can get across the line this time around.

It all kicks off on June 17th for the team, who take on Croatia first up in Dallas, with plenty of predictions flying in ahead of the tournament truly kickstarting.

Speaking to GMS at the unveiling of London Heritage Quarter’s Pride in the Quarter, Redknapp has discussed England’s chances and just how far they can go in the World Cup.

World Cup Win Is England Success

London Heritage Quarter

England head into the World Cup craving another trophy, having come so close, yet so far to ending the wait spanning back to the 1966 triumph.

A mixture of players at the peak of their career such as Harry Kane and Declan Rice, combined with fresh talent such as Nico O’Reilly, could give the Three Lions a good chance of going all the way.

That said, the threat of major nations such as France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil could stand in the way of ending the 60-years of hurt the nation has endured.

With all that to weigh up, many are torn over whether England are expected to win it or not, and what would be a good tournament as a result.

For Redknapp, the answer is simply winning the tournament, as he said: “We’ve got some amazing talent, you know. Declan Rice has had a great season at Arsenal. He could have a great tournament, and he’s a leader.

“There’s so much talent in the squad really, when you look at it, that I’m looking for us to really go far. We’re going to have to go far, yeah.

“We’ve got to win it really, to be a success. We’ve been to the semi-finals, and it’s time we won it with this group.”

The England camp will certainly fancy their chances, though the route to the final isn’t looking particularly easy if things play out as many expect them to.

England’s World Cup Route To The Final

England may be leaning on the tactical expertise and experience of Tuchel to get the side all the way to the final, in what could prove to be a tricky bracket in the World Cup.

The tournament could throw out some surprises, but if things go as many predict them to, then the Three Lions will have to face some tough opponents in the coming weeks.

Assuming England finish top of group L, they are set to face off with a third-placed team from one of group E, H, I, J, or K, making it tough to predict exactly who they could face in the round of 32.

Potential tough opponents could include the likes of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Uruguay, Norway, Senegal, Austria, and more, which will become clearer as the tournament progresses.

Beyond that, the round of 16 appears primed for England to take on hosts Mexico in Mexico City, a match that is made tougher due to that home advantage.

If they get beyond them, the remaining games could read as Brazil in the quarter-final, Argentina in the semi-final, and one of Germany, France, or Spain in the final.

Of course, things may play out differently, but it could be a tough trek for the Three Lions to make it all the way to lifting the iconic trophy this summer.

That said, it’s never stopped the nation dreaming before, and it won’t stop them again this summer.

London Heritage Quarter’s city-wide lion trail, unveiled by Harry Redknapp and Fara Williams MBE to celebrate England’s summer of international football, will run until 10th August 2026. Visit www.london-hq.co.uk for more information.

Liverpool are short of centre-back options heading into next season after Ibrahima Konate left the club at the conclusion of his contract.

The Frenchman has since joined La Liga giants Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Club captain Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both in the final 12 months of their respective contracts at the club, leaving Andoni Iraola short of long-term options in the heart of defence.

Jérémy Jacquet is poised to arrive this summer while Giovanni Leoni’s likely recovery timeline for his ACL injury will see him return to action between August and October.

However, Liverpool must sign a replacement for Konate if they want to challenge under Iraola next season.

With that in mind, here are three options for the Reds as they explore the market.

Castello Lukeba

The RB Leipzig defender won’t come cheap, with a reported release clause in his contract in the region of £77m. The 23-year-old is one of the most in-demand centre-backs in Europe with the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich all linked with the player.

The Reds need to target younger players with Van Dijk in his mid-30s and it unclear if he will sign fresh terms to keep him at the club beyond the end of his contract.

Lukeba has been described as a ‘defensive goliath‘ and the attention from several of Europe’s top clubs indicate the potential for him to become one of the world’s best defenders.

At the age of 23, he could give his best years to Liverpool. Signing him would prove costly but if the Reds have the funds then it would be straightforward given the player’s release clause.

Jan Paul van Hecke

via Reuters

The Brighton and Hove Albion defender is attracting serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur, with the North London club already seeing two bids rejected for the Dutchman.

Van Hecke played under Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Italian hailing the defender as ‘incredible’ after he penned a fresh contract with the Seagulls in 2023.

Liverpool could look to him for his Premier League experience and his relationship with Van Dijk. The pair have already played together 11 times for the Netherlands.

He has made 106 appearances in the Premier League, scoring four goals and providing four assists.

He is out of contract in 12 months too.

Murillo

Sticking with the Premier League, Nottingham Forest star Murillo would prove a shrewd addition to the Reds central defence.

The 23-year-old has been at Forest since 2023 and still has age on his side. He recently signed a new deal at the City Ground, keeping him at the club until 2030.

Forest could prove to be tough negotiators this summer, highlighted by the fact they have yet to accept an offer of £106m from Manchester City for midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Murillo is seen as another key figure in the Forest side and he is not somebody they would part with easily. He opened the scoring for Forest when they beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield earlier in the campaign.

He has become a much-loved figure at the City Ground with his unrelenting and passionate defensive style. All three players would prove incredible additions for Liverpool – if they can tempt any of them to Anfield.

The 2026 World Cup is finally here, as the biggest players, managers, and nations all head to North America this summer for the largest tournament in FIFA’s history. With 48 teams and well over 1,200 players featuring in the competition, there are plenty of stars, both known and unknown, who will be looking to make an impact on the world stage and take their respective countries to the latter stages.

Every player will have the Golden Ball, the World Cup’s best player award, in the back of their minds, looking to cut through the crowd of impressive stars to be remembered for their contributions at the World Cup. But who are the top stars involved in the latest edition of football’s most illustrious competition? GIVEMESPORT has ranked the top 100 stars taking part in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

100

Neymar

Adriano Machado via Reuters

• Country: Brazil
• Club: Santos
• Position: Forward
• Age: 34

It was a huge talking point in Brazil and beyond… would Neymar get his last dance on the biggest international stage? Carlo Ancelotti emphatically answered that question by picking him over Chelsea’s Joao Pedro.

There can be no arguing that the forward is one of the most skilful players in football history, and he was key in Brazil’s 2014 and 2018 campaigns. He’s certainly past his best due to significant injury troubles, hence his low position on this list, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the 34-year-old popped up with a vital contribution.

99

Weston McKennie

Kirby Lee / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters

• Country: USA
• Club: Juventus
• Position: Midfielder
• Age: 27

The son of a USAF serviceman, Texan-raised McKennie is a gifted and adaptable footballer who was prepared to gamble in the big European leagues. He had barely emerged from the FC Dallas youth system before he was spirited to Germany by Schalke 04 as an 18-year-old in 2017 before becoming the first American to play for Juventus in 2020. Progress wasn’t smooth – there was injury and a loan to Leeds, but he is now vital to the Juve midfield.

This season, he was used in various positions but flourished in a more advanced midfield role, providing useful goals and assists. McKennie scored on his senior international debut against Portugal in 2017. He also scored a vital equaliser at the inaugural Concacaf Nations League Final against Mexico in 2020. The USMNT went on to win 3-2, and he was subsequently named Player of the Tournament. His versatility and big match experience will be vital.

98

Antonee Robinson

Kirby Lee (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

• Country: USA
• Club: Fulham
• Position: Defender
• Age: 28

The USA will be hoping for their best performance at a World Cup in several attempts, and Antonee Robinson will undoubtedly be one of the main reasons for any success they have.

Having shone for Fulham in recent years, the left-back has technical quality, has played at the highest level in the Premier League, and has the experience of going up against some of the top forwards in the world, week in, week out.

97

Daniel Munoz

Ueslei Marcelino via Reuters

• Country: Colombia
• Club: Crystal Palace
• Position: Defender
• Age: 30

Daniel Munoz will enter the first World Cup of his career as one of the most exciting right wing-backs in the world, on the back of making history with Crystal Palace in recent years.

His explosive style of play, bombing up and down the flank with determination and quality, is key at Selhurst Park, and will also be key for his nation, as they look to ruffle feathers and go one step further than they did at the 2024 Copa America.

Munoz was key in that tournament, playing every game before missing the final through suspension, and having experience of playing at the highest level will only help him to improve and shine.

96

Kevin De Bruyne

Geert Vanden Wijngaert via Reuters

• Country: Belgium
• Club: Napoli
• Position: Midfield
• Age: 34

Undoubtedly one of the most gifted footballers of his generation, Kevin De Bruyne has won everything there is to win at club level, but has never quite been able to get over the line with Belgium.

Now 34, the creative genius will have the chance to have an impact one more time on the biggest stage, and after an injury-hit campaign with Napoli, he will be hoping to be fresh to give his all and make history.

While he may not be the first name on the team sheet anymore, his undeniable quality means he can win games on his own. Indeed, he is still surrounded by quality and that could be the difference in tight games in the latter stages.

95

Son Heung-Min

Kim Soo-Hyeon via Reuters

• Country: South Korea
• Club: Los Angeles FC
• Position: Forward
• Age: 33

Arguably the greatest player in the history of South Korean football, Son Heung-min will have the chance to have one final blast at the highest level.

After leaving Tottenham to join Los Angeles FC last summer, the explosive forward has acclimatised to the conditions already, and with his big-game experience, lasting quality, and in-game intelligence, there are not many forwards better placed at this tournament to lead their country to glory.

He is able to play as a centre-forward or as a left-winger, and his clinical finishing means he only needs one chance to find the net. In a tournament where he will be an underdog in almost every game, that could be vital.

94

Johan Vasquez

Molly Darlington via Reuters

• Country: Mexico
• Club: Genoa
• Position: Defender
• Age: 27

A captain for Genoa, Johan Vasquez is one of the leaders of the Mexico squad, taking the armband for his country on the odd occasion when other seasoned veterans are absent.

Vasquez was in the Mexico squad for the 2022 edition of the tournament, but he failed to get off the bench as Mexico crashed out at the group stage. The 27-year-old has developed into a more prominent figure since then, with his defensive nous proving crucial, so he’ll be hoping to be a guaranteed starter in front of their home crowd this time round.

93

Abdukodir Khusanov

Maxim Shemetov Via Reuters

• Country: Uzbekistan
• Club: Manchester City
• Position: Defender
• Age: 22

Naming any Uzbekistan footballer would have been a thankless task at any pub quiz little more than 16 months ago. That’s something that has changed for the Silk Road nation as of late, though, with Abdukodir Khusanov becoming a dependable asset to Pep Guardiola’s Man City side since becoming the first-ever player from his nation to move to the Premier League in January 2025.

His arrival saw him make a dog’s dinner of a debut, having been at fault for two Chelsea goals within the space of 10 minutes. But he has shown his resilience since, and he’s as reliable as they come in English football.

92

Takefusa Kubo

Issei Kato via Reuters

• Country: Japan
• Club: Real Sociedad
• Position: Winger
• Age: 25

Japan may be heading into the World Cup as a dark horse to reach the latter stages, and star attacker Takefusa Kubo will have a major say in that if they do succeed.

The tricky winger has incredible speed, skilful feet and has played at the highest level for several years, having previously been at Real Madrid. The 24-year-old has previous experience playing at a World Cup too, but he’s far better now, and will be a dangerous opponent.

Capable of playing across the forward line, his versatility will be important for manager Hajime Moriyasu as they look to be tactically flexible to find the best solutions to win.

91

Sadio Mane

Siphiwe Sibeko via Reuters

• Country: Senegal
• Club: Al-Nassr
• Position: Forward
• Age: 34

After being stripped of his AFCON title with Senegal following his teammates’ decision to leave the pitch in protest against the referee during the final vs Morocco, Sadio Mane will be back with a vengeance. Well, sort of, since the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich winger doesn’t seem to have a bad bone in his body.

Watching him at this summer’s tournament, supporters will be quick to make note of the fact he’s always wearing a smile as he still has pace to burn out on the left wing. He might not be as prolific as he once was, but his reputation for club and country will ensure he makes the headlines for good reason at some stage of the competition.