England captain Harry Kane has emphasized the strong winning pedigree within the Three Lions squad ahead of their opening World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of the tournament kickoff in the United States, Kane highlighted that nearly all members of the 26-man squad have recently secured major trophies with their clubs, a factor he believes will drive the team’s momentum.
Out of the entire squad, only two players—goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and midfielder Elliot Anderson—have not yet claimed a senior major trophy, though Anderson has a UEFA Under-21 European Championship medal to his name. Pickford, who has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper for eight years, has pledged to return from the tournament with the ultimate prize.
Kane, England’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has recently enjoyed success with Bayern Munich, winning the 2024-25 Bundesliga title followed by a German Double in the current campaign. Several other members of the national team are coming off trophy triumphs, including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze, who all lifted the Premier League with Arsenal last month. Aston Villa players Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Ezri Konsa celebrated Europa League victories, while Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson earned a Conference League title.
Manchester City trio John Stones, James Trafford, and Nico O’Reilly claimed two domestic cups this season. January signing Marc Guehi added an FA Cup triumph, and Reece James won the Club World Cup last summer alongside US President Donald Trump at the ceremony. England striker Ivan Toney brings an Asian Champions League title from his time with Al-Ahli, while Marcus Rashford has collected trophies with Manchester United and was part of Barcelona’s La Liga-winning squad this year.
The squad’s collective trophy experience extends further, including recent winners like Djed Spence (Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur), and a group of Newcastle players—Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento, and Dan Burn—who lifted the Carabao Cup within the last year. Jude Bellingham, despite a challenging season, has won both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. Other squad members such as Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, and Jarrell Quansah have also been part of successful teams.
Kane stressed the importance of combining this winning experience with lessons learned from previous near misses under former manager Gareth Southgate. The 32-year-old, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup, described this tournament as the pinnacle of a footballer’s career and expressed eagerness to lead the team on the global stage for the third time.
The group faces warm conditions in the United States but will start their campaign in a controlled environment under the roof of the Dallas stadium cooled to about 20 degrees Celsius. Subsequent matches in Boston and New Jersey will see higher temperatures and humidity, prompting hydration breaks that divide games into four quarters. Kane noted that playing in heat is a familiar challenge, recalling his experience at the Club World Cup in the U.S. last summer, which he said was excellent preparation.
Overall, the England camp projects a calm confidence rooted not in arrogance but in a shared understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level of international football. As the tournament unfolds, the squad hopes this blend of recent silverware and seasoned experience will translate into World Cup glory.