Kane keen to avenge World Cup heartbreak in 2026

• Last Update: October 16, 2025 05:55:53 pm BST • 3 min read

Harry Kane has vowed to erase the pain of his World Cup heartbreak and lead England to glory at next summer’s tournament.

The England captain scored twice in a 5-0 win over Latvia, sealing qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The result ensures the 32-year-old will have another opportunity on football’s grandest stage, four years after his missed penalty against France in the 2022 quarterfinals – a moment that lingered long in his mind.

That miss remains one of the few low points in an otherwise glittering career. Since then, the Bayern Munich striker has become England’s all-time top scorer, moving to 76 international goals with his brace in Riga, and he now has his sights set on reaching 100.

“I’d say that was probably the worst that I felt in any moment,” he said. “Obviously I’ve lost finals before.

“To have that responsibility, you almost feel like it fell on my shoulders and I guess not being able to execute something that I’ve been able to execute many a time in my career, I think that was the hardest part to process and take.

“I don’t think about it too much now. After another major tournament, you get over it and get on with it. I scored a penalty in the semifinal of the Euros which was as high pressure as you are going to get.

“In terms of that being my last memory [of a World Cup], yeah, I’m looking forward to the next World Cup to try and put that right, to try and go further. To try and lift the trophy as we all dream of doing.

“And the opportunity is always there when that is coming around. I think those moments only shape you as a person, as a player and it’s definitely helped me to become a better player.”

Kane in the form of his life

Kane’s form since that disappointment has been exceptional. With 21 goals in 13 appearances this season for club and country, he believes he’s playing the best football of his career.

“I think it’s there. The way I’m feeling right now, I’m not slowing down any time soon,” he said.

“I want to stay at this level for as long as I can. I’m on 76 now so that leaves 24 and we have a few more games between now and the World Cup and then try and edge closer to that 100.

“The goals are there and the numbers speak for themselves. The way I feel on the pitch, the way I am seeing the game, physically and without the ball, pressing, I feel in a really good place.”

Having led England to a World Cup semifinal and back-to-back European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate, Kane believes the team has built the experience and mentality needed to challenge again.

“We’ve been knocking on the door, but it doesn’t just happen overnight,” he added. “You’ve got to keep being in those situations and we’ve done that.

“There’s always excitement leading up to a major tournament, we’ll be excited for sure.

“But we know we’re just at the bottom of the mountain still. To win a World Cup is going to be incredibly hard.

“We’ll have to beat the biggest teams on the biggest stage and these moments, these feelings we’ve got together right now are important stepping stones to arriving in the summer and being fearless against anyone.”