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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on Thursday, June 11, with co-host Mexico opening against South Africa at 3:00 p.m. ET at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
However, with less than 24 hours remaining before the opening match, England captain Harry Kane offered a revealing glimpse into how one of the tournament favorites views the road ahead.
Asked by B/R Football which nations represent England's biggest threats, Kane quickly pointed to a familiar group of global powers.
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"I think there are a few. You know, like any major tournament, I think France, Argentina, Brazil, Spain. There's a lot of great teams. You could go through the list, and that's what makes it so tough, right. You have to beat them at some stage," Kane said. "It's not just as simple as two teams playing against each other. I think there's a lot that goes into it. And we need to be prepared for that. But yeah, there are some other teams for sure that will be a threat."
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England's only World Cup title came in 1966, making it 60 years since the Three Lions have brought it home.
Despite reaching the semifinals in 2018, where they fell 2-1 to Croatia in extra time, and quarterfinals in 2022, losing 2-1 to rivals France, England has repeatedly fallen short in the biggest moments, and Kane's been there to witness it all.
He won the Golden Boot in 2018, finishing the tournament with six goals while helping English re-establish itself among soccer's elite.
Now, he's looking to finish the job alongside new manager Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Gareth Southgate in January 2025, and a talented younger generation of English stars, including Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Nico O'Reilly.
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England's path won't be easy, though. They've been drawn into Group L, which features Croatia, a perennial dark horse, along with Ghana and Panama.
They will open against Croatia on June 17, before facing Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.
Spain and France are the consensus favorites in the tournament, with England, Argentina, Brazil, and Portugal rounding out the top picks across most major sportsbooks.
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