The "Three Lions" of England successfully advanced to the 2026 World Cup finals earlier, and England star Rice, who plays for Arsenal, said that he and the team will aim to win the World Cup championship, and will continue to work hard with his teammates to achieve such a moment.

In the key match of the World Cup qualifiers, England defeated Latvia 5-0 after goals from Gordon, Kane and Eze, and qualified for the World Cup finals two rounds in advance with a record of six consecutive wins.

"Our goal is to win the World Cup," said Rice, 26. "That might sound bold, but we are England and we have world-class players in every position on the pitch. If we don't think that way, it shows that our mentality is not strong enough."

"We all want to win the World Cup and lift that trophy at some point in our careers. If you look at the greatest players of all time, they've won the World Cup and it meant a lot to them. We still have a long way to go but now it's all about getting ready for that moment."

In addition, since the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Rice has scored one goal and contributed two assists for Arsenal, and continues to play a core role under coach Arteta.

"At this point in my career, I feel like I'm in the best physical shape I've ever been in," Rice said. "I feel really strong. One of the most important things in football is confidence, and I've maintained that confidence over the past few years."

"I'm becoming more confident and feel like one of the senior players in the England team. It's taken me a few years with the team to get to this point. This is my 70th cap already and it's really gone by quickly, I'm only 26. I just need to keep working hard and keep performing well."

Rice also said, "I am now a member of the team's leadership group. My teammates will come to me for advice. I have a good relationship with the young players on the team and get along well with the senior players. It feels good to be able to play a bridge between the two generations. Next, I just want to do my best to help the team and prepare for next summer."