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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.
ANALYTICAL: NICO O’REILLY'S IMPACT, HAALAND'S ADVICE KEY TO MAN CITY'S MADRID VICTORY
After an emotional Bernabéu night, Nico O’Reilly discusses his breakthrough UCL goal, crediting Erling Haaland’s advice and praising Man City’s current good form.
Nico O'Reilly was thrilled after scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal, which helped us win 2-1 against Real Madrid.
Rodrygo scored for the home team just before the half-hour mark, but O’Reilly quickly equalised 10 minutes before halftime. He scored from close range after Thibaut Courtois saved Josko Gvardiol’s header.
Two minutes later, Erling Haaland scored his 55th Champions League goal from a penalty after Antonio Rudiger fouled him, putting us ahead.
In the second half, Jude Bellingham missed a chance, and Endrick's header hit the bar as Real Madrid tried to tie the game. Jeremy Doku’s shot was then saved by Courtois, as we tried to increase our advantage. The second half ended without any goals.
“It was really special; I’m really happy about it,” O’Reilly said after the game.
“I’ll always remember this goal. Getting the three points was most important, and we did. Erling has been giving me some advice!
“It feels great. The atmosphere and stadium are amazing; it’s hard to play here.
“We got the three points, which is what matters. I’m enjoying it, taking it all in. I'm working hard in every game and practice, and I’m loving it.
“I started a little slow and could've prevented their goal, but I made up for it later.”
With this win, we now have 13 points from six League Phase games, which means we still control our chances of finishing in the top eight with two games left.
O’Reilly thinks that the determination we showed in Madrid goes well with our current strong performance in all competitions.
“We know Real Madrid is a good team. We’ve played them a lot over the past few seasons. They are that good.
“Winning here shows how well we’re playing right now.”
PEP GUARDIOLA: XABI ALONSO CAN SURVIVE MADRID PRESSURE; MY CITY RECORD WOULD FAIL
Pep Guardiola believes Xabi Alonso can succeed at Real Madrid despite intense pressure, contrasting his own 'sackable' Man City record.
Pep Guardiola believes Xabi Alonso can turn things around at Real Madrid, even though he thinks his own record at Manchester City last season would have gotten him fired in Madrid.
Alonso, who became Real's boss this summer, is already feeling the heat at the Bernabeu Stadium.
Some suggest that the former Liverpool midfielder might be fired if Real loses to Guardiola's Manchester City in their Champions League match on Wednesday.
Guardiola, who coached Alonso at Bayern Munich, said, I feel for him because we worked together for about two years. It was great working with him. We shared a lot, not just as managers, but with our families too.
But Barcelona and Madrid are the toughest clubs to manage, mainly because of the pressure and the environment. If I had done last season what Alonso is doing, I would have been fired six months before the season even ended. It's tough there. But Alonso knows this; he's been there. It's all about winning.
Real Madrid had a good start under Alonso, but after losing to Liverpool last month, things have gone downhill, with rumours of problems in the locker room. They've only won two of their six games since then, which ended with a discouraging 2-0 loss at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
When asked if he thought Madrid might be weak, Guardiola said, I don't think so. I know they have several people out, and I know what it's like when you're building something. Xabi knows what he needs to do, and I know what kind of team we're up against. He can get the job done.
The match on Wednesday is just the latest in a rivalry that has grown over the years. The clubs have played each other in five of the last six seasons, most recently in the playoff round last February, when Real won over two games.
Guardiola hopes his players are ready for the challenge. He said, We're in the group stage, so it's different, but all our knockout games have been close and exciting. We have some key players who will be playing at the Bernabeu for the first time. We're still getting used to things. You have to go through this if you want to move forward in Europe. It's a great place to see what you're made of.
City will still be without midfielder Rodri, and defender John Stones is now injured with a leg problem.
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