Kane determined to continue for England beyond 2026 World Cup

Harry Kane does not expect the 2026 World Cup to be his last major tournament with England.

Kane scored his 69th senior goal for the Three Lions as they crushed the Republic of Ireland 5-0 on Sunday to seal automatic promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

However, interim coach Lee Carsley benched Kane for England's previous match, a 3-0 win in Greece on Thursday, and the striker was roundly criticized for his performance at Euro 2024, despite playing some of the Golden Boot earned with three goals as his team reached the top. the final.

Now 31 years old, Kane does not expect the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada to be his last chance for international glory and hopes to feature on home soil at the 2028 European Championship.

Asked whether the 2026 tournament could represent his international swan song, Kane told PA: “I don't think so.

“I think there's a perception that when you're in your 30s you're nearing the end, but for me I'm performing at the highest level I've ever played and I'm feeling as good as I've ever felt. about taking in the moment.

“I don't like to look too far ahead and I never have done that in my career. The World Cup will be exciting.

“In America it will be an incredible event and ultimately it's about trying to win it, looking at where you are, where you can improve and in a few years it won't be any different.”

Kane has scored 61 goals in all competitions since joining Bayern Munich last August, at least eight more than any other player from Europe's top five leagues (Erling Haaland has 53).

Kane scored 44 of those goals under former Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, who will take charge of England on January 1.

Only Haaland under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City (53) has more under one manager in that period in Europe's five biggest leagues.

Kane was speaking at the unveiling of a statue in his honor at the Peter May Sports Center in east London, where he represented his first team as a five-year-old.

“It's quite special to be honest,” Kane told BBC Newsround. “I played on these pitches as a five-year-old with the dream of playing for England and I have been lucky enough to achieve that.

“Hopefully the boys and girls will walk by and be inspired by the story of my journey, my life and hard work.”