Sixty years on from England's only World Cup triumph, the 2026 tournament offers a familiar question with a new set of stakes: can Thomas Tuchel's side finally turn potential into a run to the final?
There are routes filled with danger, intrigue and the kind of heavyweight showdowns that define World Cups -- all shaped by where England finish in their group, and how the tournament's other favourites fare in theirs.
So what awaits England after they topped Group L, sneaked past Congo DR in the round-of-32, beat Mexico at the Azteca and overcame Norway in Miami?
Here is how the rest of England's road to glory could unfold.
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England's Group L games
Wednesday, June 17: England 4-2 Croatia (Dallas)
Tuesday, June 23: England 0-0 Ghana (Boston)
Saturday, June 27: England 2-0 Panama (New Jersey)
England's group at the World Cup probably ranked around middle of the pack in terms of overall difficulty -- and it's not particularly as deep as others -- but it was one of only two groups that contains two sides from the Top 11 of the FIFA Rankings (the other was Group C, featuring Brazil, Morocco and Scotland).
Croatia, the 11th ranked side, were dispatched 4-2 in the opening game of the group.
That result gave England a great chance of topping Group L, but the 0-0 draw with Ghana made things trickier. Thankfully for the Three Lions, a 2-0 win against Panama was enough to confirm their status as group winners.
Plotting England's route to the final
Round of 32
Wednesday, July 1: England 2-1 Congo DR
England looked on the cusp of disaster until the 75th minute of a tricky knockout tie against Congo DR. Brian Cipenga's early opener for the African nation gave England understandable worries, and goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi's heroics threatened to eliminate England.
But Harry Kane equalised with 15 minutes to go, then smashed home a terrific winner to send England through the round-of-32 in dramatic fashion.
Round of 16
Monday, July 6: England 3-2 Mexico
England came through an all-time World Cup classic at the famous Azteca Stadium to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Battling the altitude of Mexico City, they took a two-goal lead through Jude Bellingham but the co-hosts' Julián Quiñones reduced the deficit.
Jarell Quansah was sent off, before Kane made it 3-1 from the penalty spot. Kane conceded a penalty, which Raúl Jiménez scored, but England held on with 10 men for a sensational victory which sent them to the final eight of the competition.
Quarterfinal
Saturday, July 11: England 2-1 (AET) Norway
Erling Haaland and Norway awaited England in the quarterfinal, after they defeated Brazil in the round of 16.
It was billed as Kane vs. Haaland in Miami, but both players failed to impose themselves on proceedings in Miami.
Two goals from Bellingham, one an equaliser just before halftime and a second in the first period of extra time decided the match in England's favour.
Semifinal
Wednesday, July 15, 8 p.m. BST, Atlanta: England vs. Argentina
Lionel Messi's Argentina await in the semifinal after they battled past Switzerland in their quarterfinal matchup.
The reigning champions have made hard work of what seemed a set of favourable knockout phase matches as they scraped past Cape Verde in the round of 32 and then had to mount a thrilling late comeback to break Egyptian hearts in the round of 16.
They did it the hard way once again against Switzerland where Julián Álvarez's stunner in extra time proved decisive.
Final
Sunday, July 19, 8 p.m. BST, New Jersey: England vs Spain
If England can earn a famous win over Argentina, they will face Spain in the final after Luis de la Fuente's side outclassed France in their semifinal matchup.
France may have been the top-ranked side in the world right now but they couldn't lay a glove on an imperious-looking Spain side looking to win their country's second World Cup.
Spain, of course, beat Gareth Southgate's England in 2024's European Championship final. Will we see a repeat?
