Former England striker Michael Owen has predicted that France will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing their superior talent despite England's strong qualification campaign. He expressed concerns about England's defensive vulnerabilities and the challenging playing conditions in North America. Owen made these comments while being announced as a brand ambassador for South African betting company Hollywoodbets.
Michael Owen, the former England international who played for clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United, believes France stands the best chance of lifting the trophy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across Mexico, the United States, and Canada starting June 11. This tournament marks the first with 48 teams, up from 32, expanding Africa's slots from five to nine and allowing nations like South Africa to qualify more easily.
Owen, now 46 and a soccer analyst, told Daily Maverick that France outperformed others in the 2022 World Cup, where they fell to Argentina in the final. "France has the best players," he said. "Of course there are other contenders, such as Spain, Argentina and maybe Brazil – there are a lot of good teams. But if I had to choose one team, I’d say France."
England, under coach Thomas Tuchel, qualified impeccably, winning all eight matches and scoring 22 goals without conceding. Stars like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice bolster their attack. Yet Owen highlighted weaknesses: "There are also question marks about our defence, especially in the goalkeeping department." He added that the mid-summer heat in the US would pose difficulties: "The conditions are not going to be brilliant for us."
The expansion has drawn criticism from Fifpro over player welfare, with matches increasing to 104. Owen acknowledged both sides, noting benefits for debutants like Uzbekistan and Cape Verde. "Football is everybody’s game," he said. "To have more people and more players taking part in a World Cup... is a huge opportunity."
Coincidentally, South Africa's Bafana Bafana face Mexico in the opener, echoing the 2010 tournament. Owen, a new Hollywoodbets ambassador alongside South African legends like Teko Modise, has taken a liking to Orlando Pirates and called for more South Africans in the Premier League, citing Lyle Foster at Burnley.
