World Cup 2026: Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate not a TV pundit as he thinks it is 'best to keep out of the way'

Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate has decided against taking on punditry work during the World Cup, as he believes it would not be "helpful" to the team's chances. Southgate, who resigned following England's defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, led the national side for eight years, overseeing 102 matches, including two European Championships and the 2018 World Cup semi-final.

In a recent Instagram post, Southgate stated, "It's obviously a very different tournament for me this one. I've been at the last seven World Cups as a player, broadcaster, scout, and then as the manager. So this time, 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 it's best for me to keep out of the way."

England's World Cup campaign kicks off on Wednesday at 21:00 BST against Croatia in Arlington, Texas. Following that, they will face Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June, at 21:00 BST, and Panama on Saturday, 27 June, at 22:00 BST. Notably, Sir Alf Ramsey remains the only other manager to have taken England's men's team to a major tournament final, matching Southgate's achievement at four major tournaments, including a quarter-final finish in the 2022 World Cup.

Southgate expressed confidence in the current squad, stating, "Good luck to all the boys. I know all the big knockout nights we've had mean they are going to be full of confidence going into this tournament. They have overcome so many hurdles to winning—penalty shootouts, semi-finals, got so close—and they are ready to win. I hope everybody has a great month—and I'll be staying out of the way."

Earlier this week, midfielder Jude Bellingham commented on the pressure the team felt, noting that "expectation" affected their ability to connect. He emphasized the need for players to "feel loved" this summer. Reflecting on their Euro 2024 campaign, Bellingham remarked, "We had done well in 2018 and done well in Qatar, and when it came to that tournament, we were seen as one of two or three teams that should win it. We were not playing particularly well, so even when we were winning, you didn't get the feeling you were as happy as you should be."

In a new BBC documentary, Southgate discusses the challenges faced by boys and young men today, exploring the influences that shape their attitudes and outlooks.