Southgate, who managed England for 102 matches across eight years, has deliberately stepped away from broadcasting during the tournament. "I don't think it would be helpful for me to be talking about the team," he stated, "and I don't want anything to be misconstrued or thrown at them at press conferences."
Southgate's absence from commentary represents a significant shift. He attended the last seven World Cups in various capacities—as a player, broadcaster, scout, and manager—making this the first tournament he will observe from outside official roles since his competitive career ended.
The former manager guided England to two European Championship finals (Euro 2020 and Euro 2024) and the 2018 World Cup semi-final. He resigned following Spain's Euro 2024 final victory. He has expressed confidence that the current squad is "ready to win" a World Cup, though he will make no public statements supporting them during the competition.
→ Next match preview: England — Croatia