'I’ll be supporting them' – coach Pamzo reveals his 2026 World Cup favourite

APS Bomet head coach Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo has revealed that two-time world champions France will have his full support when the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway from Thursday, 11 June, to Sunday, 19 July.

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The experienced tactician, who recently masterminded APS Bomet's survival in the FKF Premier League, said his admiration for Les Bleus stretches back many years and was largely inspired by French football icon Thierry Henry.

According to Pamzo, his support for France developed naturally during the period when several Arsenal stars formed the backbone of the French national team.

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"I have supported France for as long as I can remember. Thierry Henry played a huge role in making me fall in love with the French national team.

Back then, the squad was filled with several Arsenal players, and as a passionate Arsenal supporter, it was only natural for me to develop a strong connection with France,” Pamzo offered.

"Because of that history and loyalty, I will be backing France to win the World Cup,” he continued.

Henry remains one of the most celebrated figures in French football history. The former Arsenal striker earned 123 caps and scored 51 goals for his country during an international career spanning 13 years.

He was part of the French side that lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1998, finishing as the team's joint-top scorer despite being only 20 years old at the time. Henry would go on to win UEFA Euro 2000 and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003 before helping France reach the 2006 World Cup final.

His influence on a generation of football supporters, particularly Arsenal fans, remains significant, and it is no surprise that Pamzo continues to associate France with some of football's most memorable moments.

France head into the tournament carrying one of the richest pedigrees in world football. Les Bleus have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018, while also finishing runners-up in 2006 and 2022.

Their World Cup story dates back to the inaugural tournament in 1930, where Frenchman Lucien Laurent scored the first goal in the history of the competition during a 4-1 victory over Mexico.

Another French record continues to stand the test of time. Just Fontaine's remarkable haul of 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup remains the highest number of goals scored by a player in a single edition of the tournament.

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In recent years, France have cemented their place among football's elite nations. They have reached four of the last seven World Cup finals.

The current generation is led by superstar forward Kylian Mbappe, who has already scored 12 World Cup goals despite featuring in only two tournaments. The Paris-born attacker holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup finals after netting four, including a memorable hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 final.

France have also benefited from legendary figures such as Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps. Zidane inspired the nation to its maiden World Cup title in 1998 and another final appearance in 2006, while Deschamps joined an exclusive group by winning the competition both as a player and a coach.

Overall, France have featured in 17 World Cup tournaments, playing 73 matches, winning 39, drawing 14 and losing 20 while scoring 136 goals.

Pamzo's confidence in France comes at a time when he is enjoying a successful period of his coaching career.

The veteran coach pulled off a remarkable escape act with APS Bomet after taking charge when the club was rooted to the bottom of the FKF Premier League standings.

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Nicknamed Kenya's 'survival specialist', Pamzo reorganised the side and transformed their fortunes. His defensive adjustments saw APS Bomet keep seven consecutive clean sheets, while an 11-match unbeaten run propelled the newcomers away from danger.

The run included important victories over Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka, as well as a convincing 3-0 triumph over his former club, Posta Rangers.

By the end of the season, APS Bomet had climbed to 10th place with 44 points, a remarkable achievement considering the position they were in when Pamzo arrived.

Away from local football, the season has also been memorable for the coach as an Arsenal supporter. The Gunners finally ended a 22-year wait for a league title and came close to adding European glory after an impressive UEFA Champions League campaign.