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BANDA ACEH – Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Banda Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRK), Teuku Iqbal Djohan SE, has placed his bet on the England National Team to emerge as champions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Teuku Iqbal, who also serves as the Chairman of SKULL (Supporters of Kutaraja for Lantak Laju), the main fan group of Persiraja Banda Aceh, revealed that his emotional attachment to the Three Lions stems from his passion for the English Premier League.

“I support England because I watch the Premier League almost every weekend, so I’m already very familiar with their national team players,” said Teuku Iqbal.

According to him, England deserves to be regarded as a serious title contender, backed by what he calls a ‘golden generation’ that has consistently performed at the highest level in recent years.

England reached the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, as well as the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup.

He hopes that the appointment of a new head coach will finally end England’s long wait for a World Cup title, which has lasted since 1966.

Although he favours England, Teuku Iqbal believes the race for the championship will be fiercely competitive.

He named Spain, France, and Argentina as the main powerhouses still favoured to triumph, thanks to their world-class players and strong records in major tournaments.

In addition, he highlighted Portugal and Japan as potential dark horses in this year’s edition.

“Japan might spring a surprise and go far, but winning the title will still be difficult. Usually, big teams like Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, or Argentina make it to the final,” he said.

Teuku Iqbal added that the 2026 World Cup will carry a different vibe as it will feature 48 participating nations for the first time in history.

He noted that the expanded format will broaden competition, although the group stage may not be as exciting due to the inclusion of many debutant nations.

“The knockout stage will be the real spectacle, as the best teams go head-to-head,” he added.

He also observed that the tournament being held in North America could affect the enthusiasm of Indonesian fans for public viewing events, since most matches will be played late at night or in the early morning hours in Indonesia.

Nevertheless, Teuku Iqbal remains optimistic that the world’s biggest football event will deliver thrilling matches and the usual surprises that make the World Cup so captivating.

England National Team Squad

Here is the official England squad for the 2026 World Cup, announced by head coach Thomas Tuchel on 22 May 2026.

Goalkeepers

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
Jordan Pickford (Everton)
James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders

Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
Marc Guéhi (Manchester City)
Reece James (Chelsea)
Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City)
Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
John Stones (Manchester City)

Midfielders

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Jordan Henderson (Brentford)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards

Anthony Gordon (Barcelona)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Notably, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Harry Maguire were left out of the squad.

Predicted England Formation

Based on the confirmed squad and pre-tournament media reports, Thomas Tuchel is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation for England at the 2026 World Cup.

Predicted Starting XI – England (World Cup 2026)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford

Defenders

Reece James
John Stones
Marc Guéhi
Nico O'Reilly

Defensive Midfielders

Declan Rice
Elliot Anderson

Attacking Midfielders

Bukayo Saka
Jude Bellingham
Marcus Rashford

Striker

Harry Kane (Captain)

On the Field Layout

                Kane

Rashford     Bellingham      Saka

        Anderson    Rice

O'Reilly   Guéhi   Stones   James

             Pickford

Key Substitutes

Ollie Watkins (striker)
Ivan Toney (striker)
Morgan Rogers (attacking midfielder)
Anthony Gordon (left winger)
Kobbie Mainoo (midfielder)
Ezri Konsa (centre/right-back)
Dean Henderson (goalkeeper)

Reasoning Behind the Line-up

Harry Kane remains the central figure and captain, with Tuchel stating the striker is in peak condition ahead of the tournament.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford, and Marc Guéhi are almost certain starters, forming the core of the team.

Jude Bellingham is tipped to play as the No.10 behind Kane, though Morgan Rogers could also challenge for that role. Reece James is likely to secure the right-back position thanks to his experience and attacking prowess.

If England perform to their full potential, the combination of Kane, Bellingham, Saka, Rice, and Stones could make the Three Lions one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 World Cup title alongside Spain, France, and Argentina.

England National Team Schedule

Here is England’s group stage schedule for the 2026 World Cup, converted to Western Indonesia Time (WIB):

England are drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.

- Thursday, 18 June 2026: England vs Croatia (AT&T Stadium, Dallas) – 03:00 WIB
- Wednesday, 24 June 2026: England vs Ghana (Gillette Stadium, Boston) – 03:00 WIB
- Sunday, 28 June 2026: England vs Panama (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey) – 05:00 WIB

England’s Knockout Path

If England advance from Group L, they will play in the following rounds:

Round of 32: 1–3 July 2026
Round of 16: 4–7 July 2026
Quarterfinals: 9–11 July 2026
Semifinals: 14–15 July 2026
Final: 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States.

With captain Harry Kane leading the squad, supported by key players like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice, England stand among the top favourites to go deep into the 2026 World Cup.