'We've got to win this thing' - Lowe backs England for World Cup win

Rebecca Lowe, Fox Sports

Mic'd Up: The FOX host will be at the center of coverage for the World Cup, and she thinks it's time for England to dream once again

NEW YORK -- Rebecca Lowe keeps dreaming. Every four years, football is sort of supposed to come home. And then, for some reason - usually of England's making - the Three Lions fail to win a World Cup that is pretty much expected. It has now been 60 years of hurt, and Lowe is always, always dreaming.

So what makes this one special? Well, a few things. Harry Kane is in Ballon d'Or form. Thomas Tuchel is an elite manager and top tactician. England are experienced, in their prime, and full of talent. But for Lowe, it's more simple. Basically, it's about math.

"Because of the law of averages. It's about bloody time. We've got to win this thing. Every four years. I mean, I don't know about you, but I'm like, 'we're gonna win it. Look at our team!' And I look at this one, we should be able to win it," she tells GOAL from FOX's pre-World Cup media day.

And she might just have a point there. England are solid throughout. They have made two straight European Championships finals. A cruel exit in Qatar in 2022 has not derailed momentum. The naked eye supports the reasons for optimism, too.

"I debate this all the time. But I just believe in them, and I see it, week in, week out, how good they are," she adds.

But then, there are the nerves, too. There are other excellent teams here. France, Spain, Argentina, even a revamped Brazil can pose a threat. England, historically, has not beaten those teams.

"I'm just nervous, so nervous about those big games that will come up against France or someone," she admits.

And then there's the USMNT. Lowe has been broadcasting soccer in America for nearly 15 years now. And as a host for FOX this summer, much of her focus will be on Mauricio Pochettino's men. Results have been patchy, but Lowe is optimistic.

" I love the U.S. I love them. I really want them to do well, and I'm convinced that they will do well if they win their first game," she says.

The good news? The U.S. are more or less fit and firing. And even if it goes wrong, there are 100-plus more games to cover. That's no bad thing. Lowe talked England, the U.S., her World Cup dark horses and more in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of analysts, announcers, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad. 

NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

Harry Kane England 2026

ON ENGLAND

GOAL: You said that England are going to win the World Cup. Is it coming home? And, if so, why?

LOWE: Because of the law of averages. It's about bloody time. We've got to win this story. Every four years. I mean, I don't know about you, but I'm like, "we're gonna win it. Look at our team!"

And I look at this one, we should be able to win it, but we never do, right? But I can't say this year, "oh, they're not gonna win it," because then they'll end up winning. I debate this all the time. But I just believe in them, and I see it, week in, week out, how good they are.

They should be able to win it. I'm concerned about our defense. We have Mark Guehi, I'm a Palace fan, so I love him, and our full backs are okay, if we do have maybe Nico O'Reilly and Reece James, as long as Reece James stays fit. But who are we partnering Guehi? Ezri Konsa? I know he's just won the Europa League. But I don't know, I'm nervous about the center half situation going forward. I'm not nervous as long as he picks the right players... So I think England can do it. I'm just nervous, so nervous about those big games that will come up against France or someone.

Folarin Balogun USMNT 2026

ON THE USMNT

GOAL: What about the USMNT? How are their chances?

LOWE: I love the U.S. I love them. I really want them to do well, and I'm convinced that they will do well if they win their first game. I'm not saying that they'll go out in the group stage if they don't win the first game. But this country is used to getting behind one thing. When the Olympics happen, they all get behind Team USA. But that's once every four years, and that's not a team. It happened at the Winter Olympics when Team USA won the ice hockey, this whole country went mad - 35 million people watching it.

The potential in this country to push this USA team further than the quality of the team should be is there. I know this country; I think it has to start from day one. They've got to get a good result. Doesn't matter how they play, no one cares. Just win the stinking game against Paraguay. And then the following wins of this country, the power and the PR, the marketing, they could then go far. Yeah, and I really hope they do - for us at FOX and for the country.

Take Kubo Japan 2026

ON JAPAN

GOAL: And really quickly, your dark horse to win it?

LOWE: Japan!

GOAL: Why?

LOWE: They're littered with really good quality players, but partly because of their attitude. They did an interview, one of the players did an interview a couple of months ago, and when he said "No, we're gonna win it. We're not gonna go 'oh quarter finals well done'. No, we're gonna win it. I love that. Everyone's sleeping on Japan.

Rebecca Lowe, It's called soccer

ON WORKING IN AMERICAN TV

GOAL: And how is it going to be covering this all for American TV?

LOWE: Where are we now? 2026? I started my career in 2002, so I've pretty much done half in England and half in America. Sure, so I'm not sure if I went back to England, 'm not sure I'd be able to do it, because it is quite a little different. You have to find the balance, because you have to remember there's 350 million people in this country, and a lot of them love football, and they know the offside rule. You're getting new people every year, brand new, who could be 25 years old, could be 45. You're getting people who are just stumbling across Premier League or stumbling across football, so you have to make sure that when you broadcast, you're incorporating those people.

But in this country, there are people who know football better than people in England, because they've had to. Before NBC came along, it wasn't that easy to follow, say, a Premier League team, so you had to do your homework, you had to search out those games, you had to commit. So you've got that section, you've got the new section, and then you've got everybody else. So, yeah, you have to be across it, and you have to find a way of broadcasting, so you're not talking down to the people who know their sport, but you're not doing the opposite for the people who don't. I think after 13 years, I think I know how.

Maurice Edu, Mic'd Up

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Dec. 5: Dax McCarty, Part 2: Apple TV analyst on Javier Mascherano benching Luis Suárez helped elevate Inter Miami, praises ‘must-watch’ Thomas Müller and Vancouver ahead of MLS Cup

Dec. 3: Dax McCarty: ‘I feel pride watching this team again’ - Apple TV’s Dax McCarty on Mauricio Pochettino

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April 11 - Kay Murray: ESPN FC host on Harry Kane and Bayern Munich's Bundesliga ambitions, 'undeniable talent' of Gio Reyna, and Ballon d'Or race without 'a standout contender'

April 8 - Kevin Egan: Apple TV analyst on possible Kevin De Bruyne link with Lionel Messi and MLS, Cavan Sullivan's 'swagger' and 'next-level' Wilfried Nancy

March 26 - Kasey Keller: 'Guys that would rather be on the beach' - ESPN's Kasey Keller knocks 'general malaise' of USMNT players, says Mauricio Pochettino must show 'he's 100 percent committed'

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