An England World Cup isn’t just football – it is money, politics and a nation’s bad habits June 18, 2026 England are being asked to win the World Cup, yes, but the absurdity is that they are required to do so much more in the process, both commercially and politically, writes Ed Warner. And so they’ve begun. Our boys, Tom’s 26. Their world is in motion, three lions on their shirts, out to erase 60 [...]
England, Kansas City and Taylor Swift: Why FA chose midwest as World Cup base June 17, 2026 England have picked Kansas City as their home from home at the 2026 World Cup, along with three other teams, despite not having any games there. So why has the Taylor Swift-linked midwest become “base camp capital”? Kansas City’s recent contribution to sports discourse has been dominated by the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl wins in [...]
England’s secret weapon against World Cup heat? British company’s £26 product June 17, 2026 England have turned to a British hot water bottle maker for help coping with the extreme World Cup heat ahead of their tournament opener against Croatia in Dallas tonight. High temperatures are expected to be a defining feature of this tournament – with dangerous conditions possible in 14 of the 16 host cities – and, [...]
2026 World Cup: How England went from misery to magnet for blue chip brands June 16, 2026 As they begin their 2026 World Cup campaign, the England brand is unrecognisable from 10 years ago – and it is paying off in growing revenues for the FA. This month marks a decade since one of the darkest days in the Football Association’s history, when England’s men were humbled by Iceland – a nation [...]
West Brom shock at 24-hour verdict while Manchester City case drags on April 29, 2026 West Bromwich Albion have been left shocked at how swiftly the judgement was reached in the EFL Profit and Sustainability case that cost them a points deduction. Last week it was announced that the Championship club would be docked two points for a breach of spending rules. The two-day hearing concluded on Thursday evening, and [...]
Aston Villa facing Premier League scrutiny over £55m Warehouse sale April 22, 2026 Aston Villa’s latest accounting manoeuvre – selling “The Warehouse” to the club’s owners for £55m – is yet to be signed off by the Premier League. Some top-flight clubs have avoided breaching spending rules in recent years by selling their stadiums and women’s teams to companies within the same ownership group. In a new twist, [...]
Scrap Saturday 3pm blackout for women’s football, MPs urge government April 20, 2026 MPs have urged the UK government to intervene and remove the Saturday 3pm blackout for women’s football in order to inspire the next generation of Lionesses. The Culture, Media and Sport select committee says ministers should demand English football chiefs exempt the Women’s Super League from the ban on matches being broadcast live in the [...]
Man City boss Guardiola calls for better society after Ratcliffe immigrants row February 13, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called on countries to “embrace other cultures” after Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the UK had been colonised by immigrants. Ratcliffe’s comments drew condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham as well as from across football. The Ineos billionaire has since [...]
Magic of the FA Cup has resisted tinkering and is only getting stronger January 15, 2026 Macclesfield’s historic defeat of Crystal Palace warmed even this Eagles fan’s heart and shows the FA Cup retains its powerful magic, writes Ed Warner. The first WhatsApp arrived seconds after the final whistle. “Will this get a mention in the next edition of your column?!!!” Of course it does. After Macclesfield went ahead against Crystal [...]
Is the Premier League decoupling from the rest of English football? December 18, 2025 Ed Warner pores over a report on the polarisation of English football and comes up with a solution to the Premier League’s stand-off with the EFL for the new regulator. “I just hope they don’t mess it up.” The Premier League club chairman’s answer to my question about his hopes for the Independent Football Regulator [...]