Majority of England fans still back World Cup 2030 win

Despite another heartbreaking end to England’s World Cup campaign, the team’s best finish at the tournament since 1966 has given the majority of fans hope that the Three Lions can bring football home in 2030.

In a survey of 1,500 England fans commissioned by bookmaker Coral, more than half (54%) of those asked believe England will win the next World Cup, whilst more than a quarter (27%) expect a World Cup win in the next 20 years.

However,  more than one in ten fans (12%) who have been scarred by England’s failures over the last six decades years do not believe football will ever come home.  

This confidence continues ahead of the next European Championships, much of which will take place on English soil.  The survey found that a massive three-quarters (74%) of England fans expect to win the tournament in 2028.

Following the third-place finish in the USA, almost half of fans (49% ) said the team's performances had made them even bigger fans than they were prior to the World Cup, while in terms of who or what was to blame for the loss against Argentina, 33% pointed the finger at Thomas Tuchel, 18% blamed the referee, and 13% said the England team were at fault.   9% said it was down to FIFA, while a more philosophical 27% reckoned it was just how football can be. 

Despite criticism of Tuchel’s tactics against Argentina, most fans back him to be the man who leads England to European and World Cup glory over the next four years, with seven in ten fans (71%) still putting their faith behind the German manager.

Of the 29% of fans who want him to be sacked, Pep Guardiola is the preferred replacement with 33% of the vote, followed by Frank Lampard (22%). A surprising 20% would even be keen on bringing back Gareth Southgate to the sidelines.

David Stevens of Coral said: 

After yet more tournament heartbreak for the Three Lions, we thought we'd gauge the mood of England fans, and suprisingly, plenty believe football could finally come home in four years, while there is even greater expectation about an English triumph in the next European Championships, while a majority of those questioned are also happy for Thoms Tuchel to carry on as manager.