Can football conquer the US? Why culture is key this World Cup June 14, 2026 Dame Heather Rabbatts DBE discusses why culture is key to football conquering the US after the World Cup Football has been a pivotal part of British culture for decades, but the last month alone has seen the drama of the Premier League climax, the success of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in Europe and the [...]
Adidas, Burberry and so much Beckham: The six best 2026 World Cup ad campaigns June 13, 2026 An unnecessarily serious review of the best ads around the 2026 World Cup, including campaigns by Adidas, Nike and Burberry, as picked by amateur footballer and professional creative Harriet Russell-Vick. Football ads in 2026 finally remembered a crucial detail: football is supposed to be fun. After years of ultra-serious slow-motion shots of rain hitting crossbars [...]
Has Fifa quietly made mandatory release clauses the future of football transfers? June 12, 2026 It was easy to miss amid the hullabaloo surrounding the start of the 2026 World Cup, but earlier this week Fifa announced the biggest changes to football’s global transfer rules for 25 years. Fifa patted itself on the back for “a major step forward”, emphasising the new regulatory framework had been “developed through a collaborative [...]
2026 World Cup: Why YouTube and TikTok could re-write Fifa’s revenue playbook June 12, 2026 The 2026 World Cup could erode the price that Fifa can command for its media rights as YouTube and TikTok compete directly with traditional broadcasters, analysts have warned. This World Cup, which kicked off last night, is the first in which YouTube and TikTok will both stream the first 10 minutes of every game and [...]
World Cup: Third of fan visas from non-European countries are being rejected June 11, 2026 A third of World Cup fan visas from non-European countries are being rejected with Iran and Senegal hit the hardest, research has found. The United States, which is hosting 78 of the World Cup’s 104 matches, has refused 74 per cent of visas from Senegalese applicants and 61 per cent of Iranian submissions. These are [...]
Kane and Rice sign wearable tech deals ahead of World Cup June 11, 2026 England football stars Harry Kane and Declan Rice will wear smart rings during the World Cup after signing long-term deals with Oura. The smart ring, which helps with sleep and recovery, will be worn by the Three Lions captain and the Arsenal stalwart. The pair join an Oura roster, headquartered in San Francisco, that includes [...]
Give me home Euros over World Cup, but is it really worth £557m of taxpayers’ money? June 11, 2026 I’m sure I’ll enjoy much of the 2026 World Cup, provided I can stay awake late enough, but I’ll approach Euro 2028 with far greater enthusiasm. Home nations competing on home soil in British Summer Time and with advertisers and broadcasters whipping up interest among the general populace. What’s not to like, other than violent [...]
Everton ‘surprised and angered’ at losing £40m legal case with Burnley June 10, 2026 Everton have blasted the decision to order them to pay a reported £40m after losing a landmark legal battle with Burnley over the latter’s relegation from the Premier League in 2022. The Merseyside club said they were “surprised and angered” by the verdict from a Premier League independent disciplinary commission that Everton’s breaching of spending [...]
Fanzo: London-founded app bets on World Cup in US expansion drive June 10, 2026 A World Cup is boom time for pubs and, by extension, Fanzo, as the tournament’s official venue finder pushes into the US, says founder Leo MacLehose. When World Cup fever grips football fans across England and beyond over the coming weeks, one London-founded business will have extra reason to cheer. Fanzo is the website and [...]
England named most valuable squad at 2026 World Cup, ahead of France and Spain June 10, 2026 No pressure, lads – England have been named the most valuable squad of players at the 2026 World Cup, according to leading football academics. Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man group, featuring stars such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, is valued at €1.454bn (£1.254bn) by the CIES Football Observatory, an independent research centre used by Fifa and [...]