Nearly half of UK sports fans believe England will reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, according to new survey data published by Flashscore. The study of 2,000 UK sports fans found 47% predict a final appearance, with 33% selecting England vs Spain as the most anticipated final pairing.
Flashscore said confidence is tied to perceptions of squad strength. More than 60% of respondents believe the current England lineup is higher quality than previous World Cup squads, including 23.3% who rated it as “much higher”. Fans cited experience in key positions as a leading strength, while injuries and player fatigue were highlighted as concerns.
The research also points to a generational divide over the 2026 tournament structure, which will be hosted across the USA, Canada and Mexico and expanded to 48 teams. Flashscore said over half of younger fans support multiple host nations, versus 22% of those aged 55 and older; among those who oppose the hosting model, 51% cited increased costs for supporters. On the 48-team expansion, 66% of 18–24-year-olds support the change, while 44% of over-55s view it negatively, with opponents attributing the decision primarily to commercial considerations rather than competition quality.
Late-night UK kick-off times may also shape viewing behaviour. More than 75% of 18–34-year-olds said they will “definitely” or “probably” watch England matches live even if they start after midnight, compared with 17% among those aged 55 and older.
On fandom, the survey found club football remains the dominant day-to-day driver, with the England national team ranked as the sixth most popular “team” in the UK behind several Premier League sides. Harry Kane was named the top favourite male player, followed by Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, and Jude Bellingham. Flashscore also reported 58% of respondents believe the World Cup delivers a higher overall quality of football than the European Championships (10%), with 60.1% of men and 53.2% of women planning to follow the tournament “extremely closely”.
