Captain Harry Kane is confident that the 2026 World Cup will not mark the end of his international career with England.
Despite growing speculation regarding the future of the 31-year-old striker, Kane recently extended his record as England's all-time leading scorer to 69 goals in 103 matches, following a 5-0 victory over Ireland at Wembley Stadium.
Kane was notably left out of the squad for the 3-0 win against Greece last Thursday.
On Monday, a statue and mural honoring Kane were unveiled at the east London location of his former youth team, Ridgeway Rovers. When asked by the British Press Association if the upcoming World Cup would be his final chance to achieve success with England, he responded, “I don’t think so.”
Kane expressed that there is a common belief that reaching one’s 30s signals the twilight of a career, but he feels he is performing at his peak and in great shape. He emphasized the importance of living in the moment and not looking too far into the future.
“The World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is going to be thrilling. The event in America will be remarkable, and my focus is on winning, assessing our current position, and identifying areas for improvement, which will remain the same in a couple of years.”
Having started his journey at Ridgeway Rovers at the age of five, Kane expressed pride in his statue. “It’s quite special, honestly. These are things I never imagined as a child. This is where it all began, laying the foundation for my career. It serves as a great inspiration for the young players.”
When asked what it would take for him to have a statue outside Wembley, alongside Bobby Moore, the captain of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, Kane stated, “We need to win a major tournament.”
He acknowledged that the team has come close on several occasions and emphasized that the next step is for him and his teammates to secure a victory.
Kane also mentioned the arrival of a new coach in March, Thomas Tuchel, who he believes will be a tremendous asset. “He has extensive experience in major competitions, will bring great energy to the team, and will instill his own identity.”