Alan Shearer believes England can actually win the World Cup 2026 after their epic win over Mexico. From the fans to the players, that’s what everyone must be thinking, Shearer states. He admits he didn’t feel that was the case before the game, but that performance has pushed everyone further forward, giving confidence and belief.
Before going to the Azteca Stadium, Shearer didn’t truly believe England could win this World Cup. However, he has changed his mind, and thinks everyone else has too. He still doesn’t know if England will win it, but everything about the way they played against Mexico showed why they can.
England’s Belief After Mexico Thriller
Shearer believes that whenever England have done well at a tournament, there’s always a performance that lifts the whole nation and makes people think, ‘wow, we can do this’. He had it himself as a player at Euro ’96 when they beat the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley and felt unstoppable. He was thinking, ‘we can go all the way’ and that’s exactly how the England squad will be feeling now too, on the back of such an incredible result when everything was against them.
England win thriller against Mexico to reach quarter-finals.
Best Team Performance in a Lifetime
England have often relied on their big-hitters to get them out of trouble at this tournament, Shearer noted. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham delivered yet again with their goals against Mexico, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, to go deep at this World Cup, England were always going to need the other players to step up too. They certainly did that in the last round, with every single player who stepped on that pitch at the Azteca playing their part.
Thomas Tuchel also played his part with his substitutions and how well they worked. Shearer, who is 55, described that display as the best team performance he has seen from any England side in his lifetime, particularly away from home.
United Spirit Drives England Forward
It was an absolute pleasure to be there to watch the Mexico game, because it was pretty much complete. This was despite what the team had to go through from the altitude and the incredible atmosphere, then going down to 10 men. Shearer doesn’t think he has ever witnessed togetherness or team spirit like that to get a result in such a tough scenario. That’s how good it was.
It was brilliant to see more of the same with the clips of the players celebrating in the dressing room afterwards. John Stones pretended to be injured before he started dancing with the rest of the team. Shearer loved the reaction of Tuchel too, when he realises it’s a prank. This is another insight into why this team means it when they say they are together, and the manager is part of that too.
England fell agonisingly short in 1996 when they lost on penalties in the semi-finals. However, 30 years on, there are plenty of reasons why this England side are capable of going at least one step further.