PEP GUARDIOLA: ENGLAND CAN WIN 2026 WORLD CUP, CITING TUCHEL'S "BELIEF MOMENT"
Man City coach Pep Guardiola strongly believes England has the quality and tactical leadership under Thomas Tuchel to win the 2026 World Cup, citing a coming 'belief moment.'
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola thinks England has a real opportunity to win the next World Cup in North America.
These comments from Guardiola come as excitement is growing for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup and as several of City’s English players are getting better and better.
Guys like Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, John Stones, James Trafford, and Nico O’Reilly could all be in Thomas Tuchel’s plans next summer. That would mean a strong Manchester City influence on the national team, which is already building on solid tournament showings under Gareth Southgate and entering a fresh tactical phase with Thomas Tuchel.
Guardiola’s support comes at a time when Manchester City is thinking ahead, with talk about squad planning being a big topic recently. The club is watching how their players might be used at the World Cup. England’s games in a tough group—like the big match against Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic’s Croatia—make things even more interesting for City.
Beyond just the talent on the England squad, Guardiola’s words point out the mental block that past teams couldn’t seem to get past. Guardiola, who’s been around English soccer for almost ten years, feels the nation is getting close to that crucial “belief moment” that usually comes before a major tournament win.
At a press conference, Pep Guardiola was asked what he thinks about Thomas Tuchel and England's chances. He had already said he supported the team beforehand.
“They have a good chance. Just look at the manager and the quality of the players; even the ones who might not get picked are top quality,” Guardiola said.
“Once they believe they can win, they will. I think Thomas [Tuchel] will convince them of that. They’re great in every area,” he added.
“Gareth [Southgate] got them to the finals, semi-finals, finals, semi-finals, and finals—they’re so close. It reminds me of Spain; they were always there. Then, when they finally broke through and won, they kept winning.”
Pep Guardiola’s praise will spark debate about how Manchester City’s English players fit into the bigger picture. Everyone expects Phil Foden to be a key creative player for Tuchel, and John Stones’ fitness will be watched closely. Young players like Nico O’Reilly could get into the mix if they keep playing well for their clubs.
England doing well could also affect City’s transfer plans in the summer and winter. A good run would likely boost the value and profile of their important players. Also, players who are on the edge of Tuchel’s squad might see the months before the World Cup as a chance to get more playing time with their clubs.
In the end, Pep Guardiola’s confidence is more than just wishful thinking. It's also a sign that England now has the tactics, leadership, and depth to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
THE REAL: REASON JEREMY DOKU BELIEVES THE NEXT FOUR GAMES WILL DEFINE CITY’S SEASON
Jeremy Doku praises City's pride after Bernardo Silva's red card, eyeing redemption in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
Jérémy Doku sees winning the Carabao Cup as a helpful way for Manchester City to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment. After being knocked out by Real Madrid for the third consecutive year, with a 5-1 aggregate loss in the round of 16, the team faces a tough challenge to regroup quickly.
Pep Guardiola's squad now has to shift focus to their upcoming trip to Wembley, where they’ll take on Arsenal on Sunday. Despite the setback in Europe, Doku feels that lifting a trophy this week would help erase the recent frustration.
He said, “It’s a good way to recover. We’ll do everything we can to win that game and bring home a trophy. The next four matches really matter. We have to recover well for Sunday and then take it one game at a time.”
What lies ahead will likely define the city's season. After the Carabao Cup final, they face an FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool following the international break, as well as two critical Premier League games against Chelsea and Arsenal.
“There’s still plenty at stake,” Doku added. “We’re competing in three different competitions, with three trophies still on the table. If we manage to win one, it’ll still be a strong season for us. Of course, missing out on the Champions League is disappointing. It’s always a special trophy. But we have to learn from those games against Real Madrid, recover properly, and focus on what’s next.”
City endured a tough week, following a 3-0 loss in Madrid with a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Etihad. One pivotal moment was Bernardo Silva’s early red card in the second leg.
Yet, Doku draws some confidence from how the team performed despite being down to 10 men against such a formidable opponent.
“We have reasons to be proud,” he reflected. “Playing against a team like Real Madrid with one less player and still causing them problems isn’t something every team can do. We didn’t get the win, but we can look each other in the eye knowing we gave a good performance both with 11 players and with 10. We created chances and played well.”
He went on to say, “If we bring that kind of effort to every match, we’ll trouble many teams. There are valuable takeaways from this game that we can carry into the next.”
WHY PEP GUARDIOLA CANCELLED TRAINING BEFORE MANCHESTER CITY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REMATCH
Pep Guardiola cancels Manchester City training to combat fatigue ahead of the 3-0 comeback attempt vs Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has shared his reasoning for skipping training the day before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad. Facing a tough three-goal deficit from their 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week, City are up against the difficult task of overturning this against a team that has won Europe’s top trophy 15 times.
Historically, only four teams have managed to claw back a gap of three or more goals in the knockout stages, so the challenge ahead is immense. Guardiola acknowledges his players will need to deliver an almost flawless performance if they hope to stage a remarkable comeback on home turf. Still, he remains hopeful they will create plenty of scoring chances against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
In a somewhat unexpected move, Guardiola has decided to give his first team a day off on Monday, opting for a light session just hours before kickoff on Tuesday. At Monday’s press conference, he explained the logic behind this approach, citing the fatigue from travel and recent matches. After returning late from Madrid, then heading to London for a Premier League draw against West Ham, the players have had a packed schedule. Guardiola feels a day of rest will serve them better than trying to squeeze in more training.
He further emphasised the mental aspect, pointing out that mental strength plays a big role in how well they perform. He plans to assess the players’ condition and conduct training on Tuesday afternoon. With travel taking its toll and players spontaneously connecting with their families, he believes keeping them relaxed and fresh is crucial.
Captain Bernardo Silva, who was the only City player present for media duties, supported Guardiola’s decision. He reflected on past occasions when the team took rest days following both wins and losses, trusting the manager’s judgement to help them regroup and come back stronger.
On team news, Guardiola revealed he has most of his starting lineup settled, though one spot remains uncertain. Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Rico Lewis (ankle) are sidelined, but Mateo Kovacic has returned to the bench after recovering from a lengthy ankle and heel injury. With these preparations in place, City will be charging into a daunting but pivotal night against one of Europe’s giants.
