Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen does not believe England will end their long wait for World Cup glory, with the Dutch driver backing France to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy instead.Speaking during SPORTbible’s Hot lap at Silverstone, Verstappen offered a stark assessment of the tournament as the quarter-finals got under way, insisting Didier Deschamps’ side remain the strongest team in the competition despite England’s impressive run to the last eight.England prepare to face Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday after surviving a dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, while France have already secured their place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Morocco.
Verstappen predicts that France will win the World Cup
Asked if football was finally “home” for England, Verstappen dismissed the possibility.“No, I don’t think so,” said Verstappen. “I think France is too good.”The comment came as England supporters continue to dream of ending six decades without a major international trophy.Thomas Tuchel’s side earned their place in the quarter-finals after beating Mexico 3-2 in one of the most dramatic games of the tournament. England played the final 40 minutes with 10 men after Jarell Quansah was sent off for a high challenge on Jesús Gallardo, but held on to secure victory in a hostile atmosphere at the Estadio Azteca.
England players celebrate after winning the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
The Three Lions now face Norway for a place in the semi-finals.
France continues to justify the tag of favorites
Verstappen’s prediction follows another commanding performance from France.Les Bleus open the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Morocco, extending their perfect record at the tournament to six wins from six games.
France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after France defeated Morocco during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Kylian Mbappé recovered from a first-half penalty to score the opening goal before Ousmane Dembélé added a second, sending Didier Deschamps’ side into a third consecutive World Cup semi-final.France have emerged as one of the tournament’s standout teams, scoring freely while remaining solid defensively throughout their campaign.Spain have now joined them in the semi-finals after securing a 2-1 win over Belgium, which set up a blockbuster clash with Les Bleus.
Verstappen refuses to choose between Messi and Ronaldo
During the same interview, Verstappen was also asked to settle one of football’s longest-running debates, choosing between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.Rather than single out one over the other, the four-time Formula 1 world champion argued that the pair should not be directly compared because they each achieved greatness in different ways.“You can’t compare it because it’s just different,” Verstappen replied.“The way they achieved greatness, that’s what I always find.”Messi remains in contention for another World Cup title with Argentina, while Ronaldo’s international career came to an emotional end after Portugal’s round of 16 defeat in Spain.With England still needing to get past Norway before any potential clash with one of the tournament favourites, Verstappen believes France remains the benchmark. If Les Bleus can justify this status at the end of the competition now remains one of the defining questions of the FIFA World Cup 2026.