England’s route to the World Cup final: Who could the Three Lions face?
England have reached the World Cup quarter finals. See who the Three Lions could face next and their possible route to the 2026 World Cup final
England are through to the quarter finals of the 2026 World Cup after a hard-fought win over Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the Three Lions now face another big test on Saturday, as they face Norway in Miami on July 11.
The Three Lions face Norway in the quarter finals knowing that victory would move them just one win away from a place in the World Cup final. Here’s what happens if England beat Norway, who they could face next and their potential route to lifting football’s biggest prize.
Who do England play next?
England’s next challenge is a quarter final meeting with Norway, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Thomas Tuchel‘s side secured top spot in Group L after navigating the group stage, before coming from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32.
While Congo were major underdogs, they gave England plenty to think about. Then, in the early hours of Monday morning, England showed courage and desire to see off Mexico 2-3 in their capital city, playing almost half of the match with a player less after the red card to Jarell Quansah.
Fans of the Premier League are well aware of a number of Norwegian players, from the likes of Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer, former Aston Villa goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland and, of course, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
What happens if England beat Norway?
If England beat Norway, they will progress to the semi-finals, where they will face either Argentina, Egypt, or Colombia.
That potential semi-final match would take place in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15 at 20:00 BST at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium).
If England lose to Norway, however, their World Cup dream would come to an end.
The latest World Cup odds give England a good chance of lifting the trophy, but these will fluctuate after each round.
Who could England face in the final?
Should England reach the final, the potential list of opponents becomes even more intriguing.
Possible final opponents currently include:
- Spain
- France
- Morocco
- Belgium
With several of the World Cup favourites still alive, England’s exact route will only become clear as the knockout rounds progress.
However, it is undeniable that Argentina are the team that stand out as potential England semi-final opponents, in a fixture synonymous with World Cup history.
From Diego Maradona‘s iconic brace in 1986, to David Beckham‘s red card in 1998, England fans may not have great memories against their biggest South American rivals, although it would represent an opportunity to avenge some of the demons of the past.
Can England win the 2026 World Cup?
England began the tournament among the favourites and remain well placed after finishing top of their group, despite a goalless draw with Ghana either side of their wins against Croatia and Panama raising some concern.
While the knockout stages inevitably become more difficult with every round, avoiding several of the pre-tournament heavyweights until the latter stages has given the Three Lions a genuine opportunity to build momentum.
With Tuchel’s side having overcome Mexico in heroic fashion, that should give them the belief that they can do the same against a strong Norway side, where they will have to deal with the threat of Erling Haaland.
