As England prepare to begin their FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign against Croatia on Wednesday evening, former England captain and SuperSport FIFA World Cup analyst John Terry believ
The report indicates that as England prepare to begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia on Wednesday evening, former England captain and SuperSport FIFA World Cup analyst John Terry believes the Three Lions have a genuine opportunity to end decades of hurt and bring football’s greatest prize home.
It further notes that terry, who is part of SuperSport’s star-studded FIFA World Cup analyst team , has been closely following England’s preparations and is optimistic about what lies ahead for his country.
The Chelsea legend believes England arrive at the tournament with one of the strongest squads in world football and a growing sense of belief that they can go all the way.
“I’m extremely excited to see England at this World Cup,” stated Terry. “We have had a couple of good tournaments over the last few years. We have a really good squad of players and, more importantly, I feel like we have a real chance of going on to win this World Cup.”
“I think Harry Kane is pivotal to that. If we can keep Harry fit, he’s our captain, our goalscorer, and he plays a big role for us both on and off the pitch. So, I’m very positive when it comes to England.”
England’s World Cup journey begins against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June at 8PM, a fixture that promises to provide an early indication of whether Thomas Tuchel’s side can live up to the lofty expectations that continue to surround one of football’s traditional powerhouses.
For Terry, optimism is not simply built on emotion or patriotism. It stems from the quality that exists throughout the England squad and the progress made over recent years.
“We do kind of preach that and sing it before tournaments,” Terry stated with a smile, referencing England’s famous “It’s Coming Home” anthem.
“But I think there’s definitely a connection with the supporters now. They can see the transition under Gareth Southgate and the great work he did.”
“I think they’re hopeful that Thomas Tuchel can make the difference as well.”
“In England, we’re positive, which is always a good place to be. The first objective is to get out of the group and, if possible, top the group. After that, it becomes knockout football. You need a little bit of luck as well as quality.”
“I’ve stated this all along. I think the strength of our squad surpasses that of many other countries, so hopefully that’s going to be a big plus for us.”
While Terry is encouraged by England’s prospects, he admits there were a few notable omissions from the final squad that will compete in North America.Among them is Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, a player Terry believes could still offer significant value at tournament level.
“I’m happy with the squad, but obviously I would have personally included a couple of others,” he said. “I think Harry Maguire would have been in my squad for sure, and Cole Palmer as well.”
