England set to meet old foe in World Cup final as nightmare route emerges

England’s potential route to the 2026 World Cup final has been worked out – and the Three Lions are in for a brutal run if they are to win the tournament.

England get their World Cup preparations underway with a warm-up match against New Zealand on June 6, before facing Costa Rica on June 10, with both fixtures taking place in Florida.

England’s opener against Croatia will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 17, before the Three Lions then face Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23.

The side will then conclude their group stage against Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 27.

With 32 of the 48 teams set to progress to the knockout stages, theoretically, given the talent of the squad, England should be one of them.

Who will England face in World Cup knockouts?

If England win Group L, they will face one of the eight best third-placed teams from Groups E, H, I, J or K.

Arguably, the best team they could face in the round of 32 is fellow European nation Norway, with Premier League stars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard among the Scandinavian side’s ranks.

They may also find themselves in kinder ties against lesser sides such as Cape Verde, Curaçao, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, DR Congo and Uzbekistan, assuming Germany, France, Argentina and Portugal win their respective groups.

READ MORE: England World Cup 2026 campaign simulated - with Thomas Tuchel controversial squad set for big shock

Looking ahead to the round of 16, Tuchel’s side will face the winners of Group A – Mexico, South Africa, South Korea or the Czech Republic – or the best third-placed team from Groups C, E, F, H or I.

Co-hosts Mexico are favourites to win Group A and may face the Three Lions in the round of 16 in Mexico City on July 6. Potential other opponents include Scotland and Japan.

If England progress to the quarter-finals, five-time champions Brazil may be waiting for them.

For this to happen, though, Brazil must get past Japan, Sweden or Tunisia in the round of 32 before also potentially beating Ivory Coast, Senegal or Norway in the round of 16.

If Tuchel’s side successfully negotiate a clash against Brazil, they may face fellow South Americans and reigning champions Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta on July 15.

For this scenario to occur, both Argentina and Portugal must win Groups J and K while also progressing through the knockout rounds.

The nations could meet in a quarter-final in Kansas City on July 11, potentially deciding England’s semi-final opponents.

Of course, this is theoretical, and England may well wind up facing Uruguay, the USA, Turkey or Egypt in the semi-finals.

Then comes the World Cup final, an event England have not managed to reach since they won the trophy in 1966.

Based on the aforementioned scenarios, England will take on either two-time champions France or European champions Spain, with Luis de la Fuente’s side having beaten England 2-1 in the final of Euro 2024.

England's potential route to World Cup final

Round of 32: England vs Norway — July 1

Round of 16: England vs Mexico — July 5

Quarter-final: England vs Brazil — July 11

Semi-final: England vs Argentina — July 15

Final: England vs Spain or France — July 19