The 2026 World Cup REVIEWED

A World Cup that was bigger, longer and occasionally completely bonkers.

Played across Canada, Mexico and the United States, the expanded 48-team tournament delivered unfamiliar opponents, major upsets and enough football to make even the most committed supporter briefly forget what day it was.

In this episode, we look back at the players, goals and controversies that defined the 2026 World Cup — while naturally spending rather more time than necessary discussing England.

We revisit their tense run through the knockout rounds, the growing belief that this might finally be the year, and another agonising semi-final defeat to Argentina. We also relive the chaotic third-place play-off, where England beat France 6–4 to secure their best World Cup finish since 1966.

Away from England, we examine Spain’s route to the trophy, Argentina’s attempt to retain it, the fall of several traditional powers and the surprise teams who embraced the expanded format.

Was the 48-team World Cup an exhilarating celebration of global football or simply too much of a good thing? And did England genuinely move forward — or just discover a new way to break our hearts?

This is The Final Countdown — a podcast dedicated to the great finals and unforgettable tournaments from the annals of football. Each week your hosts, Adam and Lewis, dive deep — with a generous helping of nostalgia, humour and occasional England-based emotional damage — into the stories that shaped the game.