Football is one of the few subjects (along with the weather) that can be used to open up a conversation with a complete stranger – none more so than the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Wherever we find ourselves, flags are waving, shirts are being worn and talk of the World Cup seems to be everywhere – not always for footballing reasons I hasten to add!
The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be the first with 48 teams with 104 matches. The hosting of the tournament will be shared between Canada, Mexico and the USA – the opening match will be played on 11 June, when Mexico play South Africa, and the final will be played on 19 July in New York.
As I write Thomas Tuchel has just announced his (controversial) squad. A few shock omissions here! Palmer is a game changer. Stones hasn’t played 90 mins since August, Maguire is the in form centre half and Alexander-Arnold is a class act. Some strange choices – if you ask me! But we’ve had better squads in the past who haven’t delivered, so …
None of us have any idea how The Three Lions will perform when they kick off against Croatia on 17 June, whether we will be first round failures or if they will bring home the Jules Rimet trophy to end 60 years of hurt! Let’s hope Tuchel has his got his selections right!
Just a thought! Would today’s England squad beat the 1966 World Cup winners? Probably. Modern players are fitter, faster and benefit from decades of advances in coaching and sports science. But greatness isn’t measured by a hypothetical match. The men of 1966 achieved what no England team since has managed — they won the World Cup! Until another England side lifts a major trophy, Alf Ramsey’s side still set the standard.
Like many of you, I’m a footy fan (I still support my home team) and I’ll be watching as many games as my diary allows and, along with many across the world, I’ll be shouting “Come On England!” at the TV at full volume.
- England vs Croatia – June 17, Dallas, 9pm (UK time)
- England vs Ghana – June 23, Boston, 9pm (UK time)
- England vs Panama – June 27, New York, 10pm (UK time)
World Cup BBC and ITV schedule in full and where to watch every single game for free: World Cup BBC and ITV schedule in full and where to watch every single game for free – My London
The Guardian have put together an incredible piece of sports journalism. This article includes a short summary of the playing style of all 48 World Cup nations and a short profile of all 1248 World Cup players. Bookmark and refer to the resources when watching the obscure matches: World Cup 2026: guide to all 1,248 players | World Cup 2026 | The Guardian
Some of you simply won’t want to waste time watching 22 blokes kicking around a bag of air and will disagree with former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly when he said:
For others, the World Cup will be all consuming, so, I want to offer a few suggestions on how you can survive with your relationships intact!
- Remember it only comes round every four years.
- Don’t accept any joint invitations when a fixture is in the diary.
- Go through the fixture list and be sure to avoid any clashes.
- Pencil in a few jobs around the house when no games are scheduled.
- If you decide to watch a match with your partner, avoid talking your way through it. Commenting on a player’s looks, or cheering for the wrong side, is not acceptable.
- If you don’t understand the offside rule, or any other rule for that matter, ask for an explanation before or after a game – never during one.
- Have some nibbles available and make sure the fridge is stocked with your partner’s favourite drinks.
- If you’re not interested, suggest your partner gets together with his or her friends to watch a game.
- If England lose, and your partner is in a foul mood, remember it’s not personal – be sure to steer clear from discussing any contentious issues until they have got over their sulk.
- If you do all of the above, you will be in serious credit in your relationship.
Some new rules have been introduced FIFA World Cup 2026. let’s hope they help to keep the game flowing and cut back on dissent and unsportsmanlike behaviour!
The most famous footballer in the world, almost 50 years after he retired from playing, is still Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele. Pele won three World Cup’s with Brazil and scored an amazing 1281 goals (including 92 hat-tricks in 1363 games (an average of .94 per goals a game). Ronaldo and Messi or Neymar and Mbappe have a long way to go to reach those dizzy heights.
Faith & Football
Pele, more than anything, embodied all that was good about fairness and sportsmanship in the way he played ‘The Beautiful Game.’ “God was always important to me” he once said. “All my life I thank God for the gifts he has given me.” Pele, like many sportsmen and women, quotes Philippians 4:13 for inspiration: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
“It was a gift from my Dad,” said Bukayo Saka, holding up a Bible. “It’s really special to me. I try to read it every night before I go to bed! Saka is one of the Premier League’s biggest stars. And, despite all his ability, skill and success, he makes the effort every night to read an ancient book, and take those words to heart to guide his life and career. Saka is not the only Arsenal player to read the Bible regularly. In fact, he’s part of a growing number of players at the club who trust the Bible to guide and inspire them so much that they have been nicknamed “The Bible Boys.”
The likes of Gabriel Magalhães, Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and others have been known to read and study the Bible together. Timber has also shared on social media some of the passages that have spoken to him most. These include Mark 4:40, where Jesus asks His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all yet?“, and Mark 11:24, which begins with the words, “Have faith in God.” As well as reading the Bible, many of the players pray before their games, having a conversation with God before stepping onto the pitch. Timber has spoken about this, saying, “We pray before games with the team. It brings unity and understanding… It’s a way of life, my faith.”
Another Arsenal Star, Eberechi Eze, has spoken about how prayer has impacted him. He may now be playing for his childhood dream club, but for most of his life, that didn’t look like it would happen for Eze. Despite starting out as a child at Arsenal, he was released from the club at a young age. “The day I got released, my mum said a prayer.” Now, 20 years later, he is playing for Arsenal. “For me,” said Eze, “I can see God’s hand in it.” For those years, though, he found himself clinging to his trust in God and to his purpose there. “I’ve learnt from a young age to trust God’s plan”, he said.
Man City’s Antoine Semenyo was baptised in the sea, publicly declaring his faith. He shares his faith with his teammates Marc Guéhi, Rico Lewis, and Jeremy Doku. Doku has also been baptised and shared about the experience on his YouTube channel. For him, faith is about knowing who he truly is as one loved and forgiven by God. “He’s a before and after,” he said, “I’ve been pled as not guilty. I’m gonna live daily for him, sacrifice, pick up my cross, deny myself and put him first… my goal is that when he comes back, he tells me well done, good servant. And I can ride off with him in eternity.”
“I want [people] to see me as Jeremy the son of God… I’m going to live for him.Brazil’s Neymar has long proclaimed faith, making famous a white headband reading “100% Jesus,” and tithing part of his salary to a Baptist Church in São Paulo.
Nicknamed “Captain America,” Christian Pulisic once declared, “Nothing can stop me” when he relies on God for his strength and described his cross necklace as one of his most prized possessions.
Felix Nmecha, Germany’s 6-foot-3 midfielder, said a serious injury earlier in his career was the “best thing that could’ve happened” because it drew him close to God “like never before.”
One of the top goalkeepers of his era, Álisson Becker wears his faith on his sleeve and baptized his former Liverpool teammate.
Hope Together : Heating Up? Let’s Get BBQ Ready for the World Cup!
A World Cup Prayer for England
Heavenly Father, who played the cosmos into being, please help England rediscover their legs, their eyes and their hunger: that they might run more clearly, pass more nearly and enjoy the game more dearly. But please, spare us another heart-breaking penalty shootout! Amen.
revPACman 