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!
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)
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.
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.
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.”
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 