France & England at World Cup 2026: Groups, Squads & Real Chances

Two of the big eight. Two very different summers ahead. Gary Stryker and The Qooligan are joined by Nick Britten — co-host of Road to World Cup 26 and Hooligan Soccer Contributor — to break down France and England's groups, squads, and the pathways that could make or break their tournaments. France look frightening: Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Barcola, and Deschamps chasing one last trophy before he walks away. Are they unstoppable, or will they undo themselves like France always threaten to? Then there's England — a kind-looking group with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, Tuchel's eyebrow-raising squad calls (Spence, Henderson, Toney in; Foden, Palmer, Maguire out), and the round-of-32 nightmare nobody wants: a packed, sweltering Azteca against Mexico. In this episode: Why France are the team to beat — and the one thing that could unravel them Norway, Haaland, and the Senegal "derby" that makes Group I a minefield Tuchel's squad logic, decoded: the four-D-chess picks and the big names left at home Heat, altitude, and the Azteca: England's real obstacle isn't the draw Plus: World Cup ticket prices finally falling — and where the bargains are hiding The biggest summer in soccer is one week away. Follow Summer of '26 for the full group-by-group ride, and find all the writing at hooligan-soccer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices