England will head stateside next summer looking to end what will then be 60 years of hurt at the 2026 World Cup.
No Three Lions side has come close to ending this drought since Sir Bobby Robson’s Italia 90 squad, who lost a semi-final penalty shootout to West Germany on an evening that has gone down in English folklore.
Paul Gascoigne was front and centre of the Three Lions’ efforts that summer, as he announced his arrival on the world stage as one of the planet’s most gifted and creative players, even if that tournament did end with him mopping up his tears following his semi-final yellow card.
Gazza on England’s World Cup 2026 hopes
These days, Gascoigne admits he doesn’t watch much football now, but will tune in when Thomas Tuchel’s side are in action. “I’ll probably watch the World Cup, but not every game,” he shared.
England reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 at the 2018 World Cup, with two European Championship final appearances following under Gascoigne’s former teammate Gareth Southgate. So will this be the tournament that sees them finally get their hands on silverware again?
“We’ve been saying that since 1966 – we got close when Chris Waddle hit the post in extra-time in 1990,” he added. “But you’ve got France, Portugal, Germany, Brazil and Argentina.”
“It’s going to be a hard task for England to win the World Cup – we have a chance like everyone else, but every player has got to be on it, you can’t afford to carry anybody.”
“It was a shame for Gareth, he’s a great guy.”
Southgate stood down following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain and was succeeded by former Chelsea boss Tuchel, who must get past Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the group stage this summer. The draw was one of the trickier outcomes England could have got, but like many England fans, Gascoigne’s optimistic outlook is laced with realism.
Paul Gascoigne: Eight (published by Reach Sport) is on sale now in print, ebook and audiobook.
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