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TRIBUN-TIMUR.COM, MAROS – The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just days away.

The world’s biggest football tournament will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada beginning on 11 June 2026.

This edition of the World Cup is expected to be one of the most festive, as it will feature 48 participating nations for the first time in history.

The excitement among football fans is already building, including in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi.

One such enthusiast is the Deputy Regent of Maros, Muetazim Mansyur.

Muetazim revealed that he already has a favourite team to support throughout the 2026 World Cup.

His choice is the England national football team, commonly known as The Three Lions.

The former Head of the Public Works Department said that his support for England is not something new.

He admitted that he has admired The Three Lions since his elementary school days.

“Since primary school until now,” said Muetazim to Tribun Timur on Sunday (31 May 2026).

For Muetazim, England has always been one of the most exciting teams to follow in every major tournament.

He believes the current English squad is filled with many talented young players.

“All of them are young players,” he remarked.

Although the official squad list for the 2026 World Cup has not yet been announced, Muetazim remains confident that England will perform competitively.

He believes the English players have a balanced level of quality across all positions.

“If they are strong, it means they are complete,” he said.

When asked who his favourite English player is, Muetazim said he tends to remember names from the past.

He mentioned England legend Bryan Robson as one of the players he remembers most vividly.

“From the older generation, it’s Bryan Robson,” he said.

England itself is one of the countries with a long and proud footballing history.

The nation won its only World Cup title in 1966 when the tournament was held on home soil.

In recent years, The Three Lions have shown consistent improvement in their performances.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, England reached the semifinals before finishing in fourth place.

Meanwhile, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, England’s journey ended in the quarterfinals after being defeated by France.

Currently, the England national team is strengthened by numerous young players who play key roles in top European clubs.

The combination of youthful energy and experienced veterans makes England one of the favourites for the 2026 World Cup title.

However, Muetazim admitted that he has not yet made any plans to organise a public viewing event with local residents.

He said that the tournament is still quite some time away.

“So far, there are no plans yet, since it’s still a long way off,” he concluded.