Wayne Rooney Predicts England vs Spain World Cup 2026 Final, Leaves France Out of Equation

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has named England and Spain as the two teams he expects to reach the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving France out of his predicted showpiece despite ranking them among the tournament’s leading contenders.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Rooney outlined his assessment of the favourites before settling on his final two. “I think you have to look at Spain, France, and England,” he said. “I think they’re probably favourites for this World Cup. I think England and Spain will make the final, and hopefully England will win it.”

Rooney’s comments came after England opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. The result provided early evidence for his confidence in the Three Lions, whom he described as one of the strongest sides in the tournament. Under head coach Thomas Tuchel, England enter the competition carrying significant expectations to end a trophy drought that stretches back to their 1966 World Cup triumph on home soil.

England’s recent record in major tournaments lends some credibility to Rooney’s optimism. The side reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, then went on to contest the final of Euro 2020 — losing to Italy on penalties — before again reaching the final of Euro 2024, where they were beaten by Spain.

That defeat to Spain in last year’s European Championship final adds an intriguing layer to Rooney’s prediction. La Roja, the reigning European champions, would represent a rematch of that Euros decider should both sides navigate their way through the expanded 48-team tournament.

Despite Rooney’s omission of France from his final, Les Bleus remain among the most heavily backed sides in the competition. France recorded an impressive 3-1 win in their opening World Cup fixture, signalling early intent from Didier Deschamps’ squad. Their squad depth and recent pedigree — having won the 2018 World Cup and reached the final in 2022 — make them difficult to discount regardless of Rooney’s assessment.

Also in the tournament is Harry Kane, who surpassed Lionel Messi to set a new World Cup record during England’s opener against Croatia, further underlining the individual quality available to Tuchel’s side.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first edition to feature 48 nations — with the final scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July 2026.