England's World Cup 2026 qualification: odds, schedule, squad

After two consecutive heart-breaking final defeats, England have narrowly missed out on winning the last two European Championships. 30 years of hurt once sung about has now doubled and we’re at 60 years and still chasing glory. 

The Three Lions appear to be closer than ever, a sentiment shared by the FA, who've enlisted former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel to guide this skilled squad to victory.

However, there are no assurances since teams like Spain, France, Argentina and Brazil also have a strong possibility of securing the Jules Rimet Trophy. 

Has England secured a spot in the World Cup?

England secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup draw after defeating Latvia in October, a victory that ensured they finished first in Group K of the European qualifiers.

England boasts a flawless qualification record heading into their last match in Albania, having won all seven games played, scoring 20 goals without allowing any.

Let's take a deep dive into England's tournament chances, the types of bets to place when betting on football, the key players, their potential pathway to the final and why Tuchel could be the man to make the difference.

England's chances of winning the World Cup

What makes England a strong contender for The World Cup title?

England sits comfortably in the top three of outright betting markets with UK bookmakers. European champions Spain are the frontrunners across the board, while Tuchel's team is either the second or third favorite, alongside France, depending on the bookmaker.

Following their 2018 World Cup semi-final appearance, the Three Lions experienced two close calls, reaching the finals of both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

Despite Spain and Italy securing victories in those two competitions, a compelling case can be made that England has demonstrated the greatest consistency among national teams globally in major tournaments over the past four years, under the guidance of former manager Gareth Southgate.

Since the narrow defeat in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final to France, England have only lost two competitive matches, one being the Euro 2024 final to Spain and the other being a 1-2 loss to Greece at Wembley stadium in October 2024 - under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.

England has discovered a successful approach for reaching the decisive stages of major competitions, though Southgate encountered some critique for a conservative playing style. New manager Thomas Tuchel's assignment is to achieve that minor yet vital advancement, guiding a team that has reached consecutive major finals (in the Euros) to ultimate victory. 

Here are the latest tournament odds from Paddy Power. 

BET NOW: Who will win the World Cup | Thomas Tuchel's Predicted World Cup XI

What's the current betting line for England's World Cup chances following Thomas Tuchel's appointment?

England's chances in the World Cup have fluctuated a bit since Thomas Tuchel was named as the replacement for Sir Gareth Southgate. 

They were at 6/1 in October 2024 when the news broke that Tuchel would take charge on an 18-month-deal. January 1 2025, his first official day as England manager, the Three Lions odds were 13/2.

However this lengthened to 7/1 after the 3-1 loss to Senegal at the City Ground in June 2025. At the time of writing, they now sit back at 13/2 across the majority of UK sportsbooks and as short as 6/1.

MORE: Top November events | How odds work | How to bet in-play | Free betting games 

England's roster for the 2026 World Cup

With Tuchel striving to end England's 60-year wait for a major trophy, their first since 1966, his squad announcements from here until the World Cup 2026 faces considerable pressure due to the large number of players available.

The captain Harry Kane and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford are likely the only guaranteed selections. Following the 5-0 victory over Serbia in September, Tuchel remarked that the competition for spots is intense. That match notably excluded defender John Stones, midfielder Cole Palmer, and forward Bukayo Saka, all of whom will need to contend for their inclusion in the final team.

But it’s players that have been on the move ahead of the 2025/2026 season that will hope to play themselves into contention. Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona could be the key impetus to allow the forward to shine again and keep himself in Tuchel’s squads. 

Jack Grealish joined Everton on loan, late in the summer transfer window and has been given the license to showcase the mercurial talent that shone at boyhood club Aston Villa.

Grealish won September’s Premier League player of the month award and if he maintains this form then he will hope to make an England squad before 2025 is out. 

Elsewhere, Reece James is expected to resolve Tuchel’s right-back issue, provided he remains healthy. Jude Bellingham’s role as a number 10 seemed secure prior to this season, but Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White will contend for his backup spot. The question remains: how will Palmer and Foden integrate into the broader team strategy?

Elliot Anderson currently looks best placed to partner Declan Rice in midfield, beating competition from the likes of Jordan Henderson and Adam Wharton.

A look at England's World Cup history versus that of other major tournament hopefuls.

Experts: England's 2026 World Cup chances?

Former England defender Stuart Pearce who appeared in the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996 believes the challenges of a North American World Cup may be too much for England next year.

In August 2025, Pearce shared with DAZN his belief that winning the World Cup in the States would be a difficult challenge, citing factors like the climate and travel involved.

Rio Ferdinand, a former England player, informed TNT Sports that Tuchel could introduce the England squad's absent 'killer instinct,' though he didn't go as far as predicting a tournament victory. "I'm not going to go that far, but you would put them as one of the teams who would be capable of winning it definitely," he stated.

In June 2025, Geoff Hurst, the player who scored a hattrick for England in the 1966 World Cup, shared his thoughts with SLEEPER FC. He enthusiastically praised the Three Lions' promising young talent. While he conceded that Tuchel's team possesses a strong likelihood of winning the North American tournament, he advised prudence following their friendly defeat against Senegal. 

England World Cup betting odds

AllSportsPeople's expert panel has gathered the UK’s best sports betting sites for betting on England's 2026 World Cup chances, along with information on where to find the most competitive free bet sign up offers and welcome bonuses for optimal returns on the Three Lions' prospects next summer. 

Advice for wagering on England's World Cup victory

Strategically placing your wager is crucial for maximizing returns from the numerous betting options. Thoroughly investigate the wide selection of UK sportsbooks; you might discover one bookmaker offers slightly higher odds on England compared to another. This presents an opportunity to gain an advantage and secure the best market value.

Would you prefer to place a wager at the present odds? Alternatively, should you hold off until closer to the event? You'll gain a clearer picture of England's tactical readiness and player availability, though this might lead to reduced odds and diminished value. 

The schedule of matches might prove to be a crucial element in the final outcome. Following their decisive 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade, a match many considered England's most challenging before the World Cup, they now face no teams currently ranked within the top 25 by FIFA. This could offer a more accurate measure of their World Cup prospects.

The pre-tournament friendlies in 2026 will be something to keep an eye on. 

England's World Cup final path

England's route to the final will not be come clear until the draw takes place place, which is on 5 December 2025 at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington DC.  

England secured their spot in the draw after defeating Latvia in October. This draw will feature an expanded 48 teams, organized into 12 groups of four countries each. The teams finishing first and second in every group, along with the eight highest-ranked third-place teams, will progress to the elimination rounds.

Typically, qualified countries are divided into four groups, each containing 12 teams based on the FIFA men's world rankings, with the top eight teams assigned to pot 1. Nevertheless, for 2026, the three host countries—Canada, Mexico, and the USA—will be accompanied solely by the top five ranked nations, forming the eight teams in pot 1.

Under Confederation regulations, each group can only have one team from a Confederation, with the exception of Europe, which has two UEFA teams per group because of its larger allocation.