‘The peoples game’ was FIFA President Giovanni Infantino’s mantra leading up to the 2026 World Cup, held predominantly in The United States, but also featured games in Mexico and Canada. As the dust now settles on the tournament, which is the worlds most watched sporting event (over a billion watched the opening game) most football fans around the globe would no doubt insist that ‘the people’ have never been further away or less invested in the game at this level. Infantino’

English summers are either wonderfully sunny, celebratory and full of hope and passion, or miserable, cold and full of anguish – there’s no middle ground. I’m not talking about the weather, of course. English summers can be both of these things within the space of a few days. I am, as I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, talking about World-Cup summers and England’s seemingly never ending quest to emulate the boys of ’66 and bring that damn thing home! As we headed into the 2026