England assessed as third favourites for World Cup 2026

England is ranked as the third favourite to win the 2026 World Cup, with a 10.9% chance according to Opta's simulations. The nation will begin its campaign against Croatia in Group L on June 17. Spain tops the list as favourites with a 15.9% chance, followed by France at 13.2%. Despite a difficult predicted knockout path, England's team depth is noted as an advantage against their competition, particularly against Spain and France. Upcoming fixtures for England include potentially facing the Ivory Coast in the round of 32 and co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16.