Madueke backs England's World Cup chances after Arsenal's first title in 22 years

Noni Madueke insists the relentless competitive instinct that helped him win the Premier League with Arsenal is exactly what England need to end their 60-year wait for a major trophy at the 2026 World Cup.

The winger, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a £52 million deal after playing in Atlanta for the Blues at last year’s Club World Cup, spoke ahead of England’s last-16 clash against DR Congo at the same stadium on Wednesday.

“You have to have that confidence, that excessive confidence in your ability,” Madueke said. “Because at the end of the day, alongside your teammates, and on that pitch it is down to you to deliver. So whatever gets you in that mind frame to be able to do that — I feel like that’s good.”

Madueke pointed to the squad’s off-pitch habits as evidence of a winning mentality, describing competitive basketball shooting contests and card game Wolf as regular features of England’s downtime in Kansas City. “It’s every man for themselves when we do those shooting competitions,” he said. “And I win all the time.”

He acknowledged the heat in Kansas City has kept the squad largely indoors — “it’s too hot, inside is air conditioning so we just stay inside” — but said the Atlanta venue’s retractable roof would have little bearing on Wednesday’s game. “It makes no difference, to be honest, whether it’s open or closed. I think it’ll be about 19, 20 degrees, so perfect.”

England have been tested by low-block defences in the group stage, and Madueke conceded DR Congo are likely to set up similarly. “It’s not easy to break down,” he said. “I think we’ve seen other top nations struggle as well — Spain, Portugal in the last game. So yeah, it’s just part of football now.”

For Madueke personally, the past 12 months represent a remarkable arc: a Club World Cup appearance in Atlanta, a £52 million transfer, a Premier League title, and now a World Cup knockout stage. “Winning the league with Arsenal was great, and then being able to play for my country at the World Cup is, I think, the pinnacle,” he said. “So it’s been great so far, and long may it continue.”