Barry Hearn and Matchroom back Brentwood Town’s bid to reach National League July 20, 2026 Brentwood Town FC are targeting promotion to the National League for the first time after fresh investment from Barry Hearn and Matchroom in his local football club. Brentwood-based Matchroom has renewed its deal as the club’s main sponsor for a further five years as part of a “significant investment” designed to boost their chances of [...]
The 2026 World Cup had its flaws, yes, but it was a resounding success for Fifa July 20, 2026 In the coming days following last night’s World Cup final, Fifa will release a report on how many people watched the tournament across its five and a half weeks. Look out for the social media KPIs – impressions, engagement, video views – that major sporting bodies now have to report, but the headline number will [...]
Global Citizen’s links to Fifa chief Motsepe and the first ever World Cup half-time show July 19, 2026 If you haven’t heard of Global Citizen before, that may be about to change due to the charity’s role in the first ever half-time show during a World Cup final on Sunday. The show, curated by Coldplay frontman and longtime Global Citizen supporter Chris Martin, will feature performances from some of the biggest stars in [...]
World Cup final half-time show has been coming, but Fifa must be careful July 19, 2026 For a very long time, the World Cup final has needed no additional entertainment. The match was the spectacle. The players, the history and the occasion were enough. That is why Fifa’s decision to stage the first World Cup final half-time show has made me and plenty of others feel a bit uncomfortable. Madonna, Shakira, [...]
Did this World Cup have too much of Sir David Beckham? July 18, 2026 Graham McKenna assesses whether David Beckham proves this World Cup had too much celebrity As the curtain starts to fall on another World Cup, a lot of conversation around this year’s tournament hasn’t been about the football itself, but the business surrounding it. The introduction of mandatory hydration breaks sparked plenty of debate, with many [...]
Starmer took sport freebies worth tens of thousands of pounds while PM July 17, 2026 Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took sport-related freebies worth tens of thousands of pounds in his two years at Downing Street. Official data declared by the Prime Minister in the register of accepted gifts and hospitality shows the sport-mad leader has enjoyed £33,000 worth of perks since winning a landslide victory for his Labour [...]
The real winner of the Fifa World Cup? Beer July 17, 2026 Whatever happens in Sunday’s final, one World Cup winner is already clear: beer. For generations, football fans around the world have gathered at their local, celebrating victories and consoling one another after defeats with a pint in hand. Beer does not simply accompany football, it transforms watching a match into a shared experience. This summer’s [...]
Over 1,000 World Cup final tickets unsold as resale site demands $2.3m July 17, 2026 Over 1,000 tickets remain unsold for the World Cup final on Fifa’s resale site as some prices reach $2.3m. Spain will take on Argentina on Sunday at New Jersey’s 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium – known during this tournament as the New York New Jersey Stadium – in the World Cup final as the 104th and final [...]
What can the Rugby World Cup learn from US nailing of Fifa World Cup? July 17, 2026 With a United States Rugby World Cup just five years away, Ollie Phillips asks what can the sport learn from the Fifa World Cup. Sitting here in the UK looking across the Atlantic to a World Cup mainly staged in the United States, it is difficult not to get just a little bit excited about [...]
World Cup demand pushes price of private jet charters up 30 per cent July 16, 2026 The price of chartering a private jet between some US cities has surged by up to 30 per cent due to “exceptionally strong demand” during the World Cup. Corporate groups, wealthy football fans and syndicates of supporters travelling together have turned to private charters in increasing numbers to navigate the biggest and most geographically dispersed [...]