Pep Guardiola has revealed the national team he hopes will win the 2026 World Cup, while maintaining that Spain and France remain the top favourites to lift the trophy in the tournament hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
When asked about who will win the World Cup, the former Manchester City manager replied:
“I don’t know. I wish I knew the answer because it would make me a lot of money.”
He further added, “Spain has technical stability and an abundance of talented Barcelona players, alongside the recent successes achieved by the current coaching staff, such as winning Euro 2024.”
However, when questioned about which team he personally wishes to see crowned champions, Guardiola did not pick his home country, Spain. Instead, he expressed his desire for England to win the tournament.
Justifying his choice, Guardiola said:
“I lived in England for 10 years, and now I hope to see them become World Cup champions.”
Guardiola’s relationship with Spain has generally been tense due to his continuous public support for Catalan independence, making it unsurprising that he is not actively rooting for La Roja.
Led by German manager Thomas Tuchel, the England national team faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32, as the Three Lions continue their quest for a World Cup title that has eluded them since 1966.
