FIFA 2026 Tickets: How This World Cup Is Going to End for England

Author : FIFA World Cup Tickets | Published On : 13 Jul 2026

FIFA 2026 Tickets: On the way to Gillette Stadium to watch the France-Morocco World Cup quarter-final last week, I started chatting with an English reporter sitting next to me on the media bus. It turned out this fellow was a fairly prominent soccer journalist with several big books and podcasts to his name, and inevitably the conversation turned to the England national team and its odds of success.

England’s Long Wait for World Cup Glory

While this reporter wasn’t really the biggest England fan, he shared a theory with me. He had covered nearly two dozen major tournaments, and the way these things generally worked, he said, was that a team with bad previous luck or even potentially a curse could break that misfortune, but first they had to get the monkey or series of monkeys that had been holding them down off of their backs.

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For American sports fans, think back to Michael Jordan needing to defeat the Detroit Pistons before he could win his first NBA Championship. Or the Boston Red Sox coming back from three games down against the Yankees to win the American League Championship to go on and sweep the World Series.

The “Monkey Off the Back” Theory Explained

England, we both noted, has a lot of monkeys. It’s been 60 years since the nation that invented the sport won a major tournament, with the team coming painfully close a few times since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966. For context, the Curse of the Billy Goat was 58 years old when Steve Bartman kept it going, and the Curse of the Bambino was 68 years old when Billy Buckner kept it going.

Typical of the contradictory swaying between world-ending despair and hubristic overconfidence of an England fan, he noted that it didn’t count because they were always going to win that game against the far lesser opposition. Click to read more about FIFA 2026 Tickets.

Now, my English counterpart saw the monkeys slowly peeling off. The team’s round of 16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where Maradona’s Hand of God defeated them in the 1986 quarterfinals: one monkey down. Also, England had embraced a manager from Germany, perhaps the bitterest of England’s football rivals, for the first time: monkey number two?

Why This England Team Feels Different

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I’ve thought England was winning this World Cup since about 15 minutes into the team’s first group-phase game against Croatia. England had a penalty kick in those early moments of the game, and typically (and hilariously to me), Kane had biffed it, sending it right into the arms of the Croatian keeper.

I immediately sent my Premier League fantasy group chat a taunting LOL. England was going to England all over again, and as a France supporter, I was delighted. The keeper was off his line. Kane would retake his penalty. He did not miss again, burying it into the right bottom corner with no hesitation. Immediately after this penalty, England looked more confident and dominant than I think I’ve ever seen them play.

Can England Finally End Decades of Heartbreak?

I’d seen enough, and I placed a small bet ($100 payout) on them to win the entire tournament, the only such bet I’ve made this whole World Cup. They went on to put four goals past the Croatians, defeating the team that had beaten them in the semifinals eight years ago in completely dominant fashion. Another monkey down?

Again, personally, I do not like this team, and I want them to lose, to the point that I’ve annoyed my coworkers with my cheers against England. When the team was losing for 68 minutes against that DRC team in their first knockout game, I was slacking Slate’s World Cup group chat maniacally, prompting one colleague to ask: Jeremy, why do you hate England’s soccer team so much?

So yeah, I do not want to see England win the World Cup. Unfortunately, I’m more confident than ever that it’s England’s year. Never in my lifetime have I believed that. But, tragically, this team is different. In addition to Kane, they have a second genuine game-changing player in Jude Bellingham, whose back-to-back braces did more than any other player to carry them into the quarterfinals.

What is the “monkey off the back” theory in sports?

The theory suggests that teams must overcome long-standing psychological barriers, painful defeats, or historical failures before they can finally achieve championship success.

Why has England’s World Cup history been considered disappointing?

Despite winning the 1966 FIFA World Cup, England has repeatedly fallen short in major tournaments, often being eliminated dramatically and heartbreakingly.

How does Harry Kane influence England’s chances of success?

Harry Kane provides leadership, consistent goal scoring, and composure in crucial moments, making him one of England’s most important players.

Why is Jude Bellingham considered a key player for England?

Jude Bellingham brings creativity, energy, and match-winning ability, giving England another elite player capable of changing games.

What historical moments are referenced as England’s biggest obstacles?

The article highlights painful memories such as the 1986 “Hand of God” defeat to Argentina, the 2018 semifinal loss to Croatia, and decades of tournament disappointments.

Why does the author believe this England team is different?

The author points to the team’s resilience, confidence, strong team spirit, tactical maturity, and ability to recover from difficult situations as signs of real progress.

How has England’s mentality improved compared to previous tournaments?

According to the article, the players appear more united, mentally stronger, and better equipped to handle pressure than many previous England squads.

Why is the semifinal against Argentina considered so significant?

Facing Argentina allows England to overcome one of the most painful rivalries in its football history while taking another step toward the World Cup final.

Does the author want England to win the World Cup?

No. Although the author openly supports France and hopes England loses, they acknowledge that this England squad looks like a genuine contender capable of winning the tournament.

How can fans sell FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets safely?

Fans can sell FIFA World Cup tickets through trusted platforms like Xchangetickets. These marketplaces connect buyers and sellers for group, knockout, and final matches.