Alexi Lalas dreading thought England could win World Cup on America's 250th birthday: 'Cannot have that'

There is nary clear-cut favourite heading into nan 2026 FIFA World Cup, but if you inquire Fox Sports expert Alexi Lalas who he believes will assistance nan trophy astatine nan extremity of nan tournament, he’ll springiness you 1 answer.

"I don’t attraction who wins arsenic agelong arsenic it’s not England," he said during Fox Sports’ FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Day connected Wednesday successful New York City. "I tin abide by a batch of things happening this summer, but 1 point I cannot is having England travel complete connected our shores, connected our 250th day of what I consciousness is nan top state successful nan world, and for them to triumph a World Cup.

"If you deliberation they’re insufferable now, could you ideate they came complete and won that World Cup and it’s coming location done our country. I cannot person that, truthful anybody but England."

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Alexi Lalas, Fox Sports shot expert and U.S. men's nationalist squad legend, appears animated connected shape astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, Calif., connected April 14, 2023. (Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The U.S.-England rivalry successful shot was successful afloat unit successful 2022, erstwhile they were pitted against each different successful their group shape successful Qatar. It was a 0-0 tie successful a hard-fought lucifer for some sides, but successful 2026, they’ll person to get retired of their respective groups if they are to meet successful nan tournament.

But Lalas couldn’t ideate England taking location its first World Cup since 1966 — nan country’s only triumph successful nan tourney of each tournaments.

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There is nary denying, though, really awesome nan English squad will beryllium this year, arsenic Lalas knows.

"They’re really good," he said. "As overmuch arsenic it pains maine to say, they are very, very good. The shot gods person a wicked consciousness of humor. Please not England, anybody but England."

Lalas’ Fox Sports colleague, big Rebecca Lowe, is simply a West Londoner who has dreamed of her state winning it each since she tin remember.

"Every 4 years of my play since 1990, I deliberation astir England winning nan World Cup," she said aft Lalas’ rant. "So, I’m now getting to a shape wherever if I now spell against them, they’re going to do it.

"I’m going to beryllium courageous. It is going to travel home."

Commentator and erstwhile subordinate Alexi Lalas looks connected earlier nan CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 last betwixt nan United States and Mexico astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston, Texas, connected July 6, 2025. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Lowe and Lalas said that they will person a stake successful spot erstwhile nan tourney originates where, if England does so triumph it all, nan second will person to do thing and vice versa.

Carli Lloyd, Stu Holden, and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez besides gave their predictions astir who would win. Hernandez was connected Lowe’s broadside believing England could triumph it all, though he hopes his location country, chap big tract Mexico, tin do truthful instead.

Lloyd and Holden some deliberation France, which fell successful penalties to Argentina successful nan 2022 World Cup Final, will get nan occupation done astatine MetLife Stadium successful July.

"The French, I conscionable look astatine this team, they proceed to get stronger. When they spell down a generation, nan adjacent procreation comes," Holden said.

Soccer expert Alexi Lalas speaks astatine nan FOX Sports 2018 FIFA World Cup Celebration connected Sept. 26, 2017, astatine ArtBeam successful New York City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for FOX Sports)

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"I’m going to spell pinch France arsenic well," Lloyd added soon after. "The depth, nan experience. I cognize firsthand losing successful 2011 astatine nan World Cup, coming backmost and really having that desire to really want to triumph successful 2015. There’s thing astir that."

The sheet was hopeful nan U.S. men’s nationalist squad tin make a tally connected location soil, but it’s difficult to contradict nan talent level elsewhere arsenic nan champion players and countries successful nan world converge connected North America successful conscionable a fewer weeks.

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