Southgate: Good luck to all the lads, I'll be staying out of the way this time

Former England manager Gareth Southgate took to Instagram to share a video message just days before the Three Lions' opening match at the 2026 World Cup. He wished the team success and confirmed his decision to avoid any public appearances during the tournament.

“Hello everyone! With the World Cup now underway and England's first game just days away, I felt it was a good time to leave you a little message. Clearly, this will be a very different tournament for me. I've been at the last seven World Cups as a player, pundit, scout, and manager. So, this time, I've made a conscious decision not to appear on television. I decided it wouldn't be beneficial for me to discuss the team. I don't want anything to be misinterpreted or thrown at them during press conferences. So, for me, it will be best to stay out of the spotlight.

I simply wanted to take this moment to wish all the lads the very best of luck. I know that, given all the big knockout nights we've had, they are heading into this tournament with full confidence. They've overcome so many hurdles to win semi-finals and penalty shootouts, coming so close. So, they are ready to triumph. That's why I'm looking forward to watching them. Support the boys; I know how important your backing is to them. I hope everyone has a fantastic month, and I'll be staying out of the way,” Southgate stated in his video message.