Maddox Jones' World Cup Song Crowned One of England's Best by the Daily Express

June 12, 2026

Maddox Jones’ World Cup Song Crowned One of England’s Best by the Daily Express

Radikal Records artist Maddox Jones’ World Cup single ‘This Time We’ll Be Winning’ was featured in the Daily Express as one of England’s top World Cup songs.

Writer Garry Bushell gave Maddox’s World Cup song its own mention as ‘the cream of this year’s crop’ towards the end of his list, which ranked World Cup songs through England’s history.

This was what Bushell had to say about ‘This Time We’ll Be Winning’:

Like a mellower Springsteen, this driving pop song from Northampton singer-songwriter Maddox has a solid hook and is made for radio play. Supported by TalkSport, the chorus runs, ‘Some might say we’re dreaming, but I just got a feeling, so why can’t we all believe it?’ The wordless chant of ‘Woah-oh, woah-oh, Woah-oh, woah-oh’ that runs through it is hard to resist. It’s the second World Cup song from Jones who managed to persuade Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce to appear in the video for the first one, 2024’s England Together.

You can find Bushell’s full list and see if your favorite World Cup song made it at the Daily Express.

The single received its world debut on TalkSport, and at its heart is a soaring, instantly memorable chorus: “Some might say we’re dreaming, but I just got a feeling, so why can’t we all believe it, this time, this time we’ll be winning.” It’s a classic indie song at its core, big-hearted, anthemic, and built to be sung at full volume. ‘This Time We’ll Be Winning’ captures the infectious optimism that a major international tournament conjures; that rare, collective sense of community and shared belief that sweeps across the nation every time England take to the pitch.

The song features a powerful, chant-driven singalong section that immediately evokes the atmosphere of iconic sports anthems such as “Seven Nation Army” and “Zombie Nation” – two of the most globally recognized non-lyrical crowd chants in sporting culture. Anchored by the instantly memorable refrain, “This time we’ll be winning,” the track carries all the hallmarks of a stadium-ready anthem destined to resonate with football fans on a massive scale.

This is not Maddox’s first foray into football. For UEFA Euro 2024, he teamed up with internet sensation The Wealdstone Raider on ‘England Together’, a raucous indie-rock rallying cry that paid homage to the victorious spirit of classic football anthems, complete with a music video featuring England football legend Stuart Pearce. Originally conceived by Paul Rumens, Ex President of National League Wealdstone FC, the single was inspired by Maddox’s passion for the sport and his instinct for the anthemic.

Before that, for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Maddox again joined forces with The Wealdstone Raider on ‘We’re All Here Together (Go England!)’. The idea was born from Paul Rumens and his wife Lori from Northampton, who wanted to create an uplifting World Cup song dedicated to good causes. With ‘This Time We’ll Be Winning’, Maddox completes a remarkable hat-trick of England football anthems, cementing his place as the go-to voice for the nation’s footballing hopes.

Maddox enjoyed early success with The Departure, securing four Top 40 hits, sharing the stage with iconic bands such as The Killers and Placebo, and playing prestigious festivals like Reading & Leeds and Glastonbury. Maddox has a track record of electrifying performances alongside notable acts like Thomas Heaton, Beaux, The Lottery Winners, and Lemar, and after a busy start to 2025 supporting artists like, Lucy Spraggan, Will Young, and Rebecca Ferguson, the singer-songwriter announced his own, first-ever UK Headline Tour.

Having burst onto the scene as a solo artist in 2020 with the critically acclaimed EP, ‘Headspace’, the EP reached #4 in the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart. The follow-up 2021 single, ‘Can’t Wait for the Summer’ followed suit, hitting the top spot on the same chart. Tipped as One to Watch by BBC Introducing Northampton, Maddox has garnered further acclaim across the industry, earning a spot at #5 on Music Week’s Commercial Pop and Upfront Club Chart with ‘Make Me Yours’ off his debut album ‘Believe It’ and his recent #1 on the Music Week Black Music Club Chart with his Great Adamz on ‘Body & Soul’, ending 2025 on a high note.