Gareth Southgate Declines World Cup TV Role, Expresses Confidence in England Squad

Former England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed he declined offers for World Cup television work, explaining his decision to "keep out of the way" to prevent any potential distraction to the national team.

Despite his absence from a direct role, Southgate expressed strong confidence in the England squad, stating his belief that they are "ready to win" the tournament. He highlighted the team's experiences, noting, "All the knockout nights they’ve had means they are going to be full of confidence going into the tournament. They have overcome so many hurdles to winning, penalty shootouts, semi-finals, we got so close and they are ready to win."

This summer's 48-team competition in North America marks a significant change for Southgate, as it is the first World Cup since 1994 that he will not be directly involved in. His previous involvement spanned roles as a player, broadcaster, scout, and manager across seven World Cups. His tenure as manager saw England reach a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final, in addition to back-to-back European Championship finals before his departure after Euro 2024.

Southgate explained his decision in an Instagram video, stating, "I didn’t think it would be helpful for me to be talking about the team. I don’t want anything to be misconstrued or thrown at them in press conferences. So, best for me to keep out of the way." He concluded by offering his full support, wishing "good luck to all the boys."

England arrived at their Kansas City base on Saturday and are scheduled to begin their Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.

According to Yahoo Sports Soccer, ...