Sir Gareth Southgate announced he has deliberately stepped back from punditry at the 2026 World Cup to avoid any distraction to England's campaign. "I took a conscious decision not to do the TV. I didn't think it would be helpful for me to be talking about the team and I don't want anything to be misconstrued or thrown at them at press conferences, so best for me to keep out of the way," Southgate said on Instagram.
Southgate, who resigned after England's Euro 2024 final loss to Spain, led the Three Lions for eight years and 102 games, including two European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-final. He has attended seven previous World Cups as a player, broadcaster, scout and manager.
Despite stepping away from public duties, Southgate expressed confidence in the squad. "They have overcome so many hurdles to winning - penalty shootouts, semi-finals, got so close - and they are ready to win," he said.
→ Next match preview: England — Croatia