Michael Owen: England Can Be Strong Here

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, June 11, with Canada, Mexico and the United States co-hosting the month-long tournament. Argentina enter as defending champions after beating France on penalties in the 2022 final in Qatar. The opening match will see Mexico face South Africa in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener.

England are among the teams expected to challenge for the title, but manager Thomas Tuchel has faced scrutiny over his squad selection. His decision to leave out Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Morgan Gibbs-White has drawn attention from supporters and pundits alike. Tuchel has said his role is not simply to select the 26 most talented players, underlining that balance, tactics and squad structure influenced his choices.

Former England striker Michael Owen has backed Tuchel’s squad, saying he likes the overall selection and believes England’s strength lies in attack. Owen, who played in five major tournaments for England and scored 40 goals in 89 appearances, said he would have preferred more “game changers” over additional full backs. He suggested England’s success will depend on the form and rotation of players such as Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, along with the impact of Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins.

Owen said he is comfortable with the selection because England have strong options in goal, defense and defensive midfield, and because the team can manage the physical demands of a long tournament by keeping key players fresh. He argued that Tuchel’s tactical ability could be decisive if England are to go deep into the competition.

England are chasing their first World Cup title in 60 years, having come close in recent major tournaments. They reached the final of the last two European Championships and were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup. Owen believes England are capable of making another strong run, though he also pointed to France and Spain as the teams to watch because of their depth and quality across the pitch.

With the tournament set to start, attention is now turning to how Tuchel’s England will perform on the biggest stage and whether their blend of experience, attacking talent and squad depth can finally end the nation’s long wait for World Cup glory.