Published on 6/14/2026
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Last update: 14:47 (Mecca time)
England defender Dan Burn confirmed his country’s determination to end the period of absence from winning the World Cup title, while coach Thomas Tuchel’s team continues its long preparations for its opening match in Group Twelve against Croatia on Wednesday.
England has won the World Cup once on home soil in 1966, but Tuchel and his team are optimistic about their chances of ending a 60-year wait when they next begin their quest to win the title in North America.
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The 34-year-old Newcastle United defender said, speaking about England’s hopes of winning the title, “I think there is no point in coming here and saying that we do not want to achieve that.”
He added, “Putting a second star on the chest, this is the challenge. This is what we want to achieve.”
England and Croatia match
England begins its campaign with a difficult opening match against Croatia, which it defeated while coach Gareth Southgate was leading in the semi-finals in 2018, before facing Ghana and Panama in their remaining matches in the group stage.
The English team arrived in Kansas City on Saturday after a period spent in Florida, which Byrne believes prepared the players for the hot climate that awaits them.
“I think after the week we spent in West Palm, it doesn’t feel as hot here as it seems drier and less humid,” he said.
He added, “But the situation is the same for all teams. I don’t think this is something that worries us much at the moment.”
England’s match against Croatia comes about a week after the start of the tournament and will be one of the last first-round matches in the group stage, but Byrne believes the wait will have been worth it.
“I’m excited now that we’re here,” he said after arriving in Kansas City.
He added, “I think it started when the tournament started… I think that’s when things really started moving.”
He continued, “I don’t think this affects us at all. It just gives us more time to follow the competition, and perhaps get used to the atmosphere of the matches and the type and pace of play before we play next week.”
