World Cup 2026: Harry Kane urges fearless England to chase glory without regrets

England captain Harry Kane has challenged his teammates to play with freedom and courage as the Three Lions begin their latest bid to end a 60-year wait for FIFA World Cup success.

England open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas, with hopes high that Thomas Tuchel’s side can finally bring football’s biggest prize back to England for the first time since the triumph of 1966.

As one of the most experienced players in the squad, Kane knows better than most the highs and lows of tournament football. The striker has led England to a World Cup semi-final, a European Championship final and several deep runs in major competitions, but is still chasing the ultimate prize with his country.

Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of England’s tournament opener, the Bayern Munich forward stressed the importance of embracing the challenge and playing without fear.

“We’re here to go far in the tournament, that’s our aim, that’s our goal,” Kane said.

The 32-year-old believes players should focus on expressing themselves rather than worrying about mistakes or criticism, insisting that fear can often be more damaging than failure itself.

“I think the only regrets you can have coming away from tournaments is that you didn’t go for it.

“You can make mistakes, you can miss penalties like I’ve missed, but I don’t think those are the moments that stop you from sleeping at night.”

Kane’s comments carry extra significance given his own experiences on the international stage. The England captain famously missed a crucial penalty during the quarter-final defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup, a moment that ended England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

However, he believes missed opportunities and mistakes are easier to accept than looking back and feeling that more could have been given.

“I think it’s the ones where you feel like you could have given more, you feel like you could have been a bit more free, you could have just gone for it.”

England arrive at the tournament as one of the favourites to challenge for the trophy, boasting a talented squad that includes Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Cole Palmer alongside Kane’s proven goalscoring ability.

Despite the weight of expectation that follows England into every major tournament, Kane insists the players must remain brave regardless of the outcome.

“Because when you lose, you lose anyway, it doesn’t matter how you lose, it’s the same result.

“I’d rather lose giving it everything, showing my best abilities. Whether you make mistakes or not, I’d rather go out like that.”

The striker concluded with a straightforward message to his teammates as they prepare for the challenge ahead.

“The message is just to be free and don’t be afraid of any outcome, and we’ll have a great chance.”

For Kane and England, the mission is clear: play boldly, embrace the pressure and leave the World Cup with no regrets as they chase a long-awaited second world title.