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Road to World Cup 26 Podcast - Episode 1 - Your Definitive Guide to World Cup 26
4 Plays26 days ago
Join Ken Davies and Nick Britten for your definitive guide to all things World Cup 26
Each week we'll take the deepest of dives into everything leading up to kick off in June 2026.
If you want to be the water-cooler expert in all things World Cup - you've just found your favorite podcast.
World Cup 2026 will be a Festival of football - with 48 teams completing for the ultimate prize - 104 matches over 56 days - with all the excitement, romance and jeopardy that the World Cup always brings - but on a much bigger scale.
Hosted in Mexico, Canada and the US - It's the pinnacle of the global soccer calendar
Email the show with your questions at : roadtoworldcup26@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Road to the World Cup 26'
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome, everybody, wherever you might be around the world. We are here today to bring to you the first episode in Road to the World Cup 26 podcast. New podcast for us at Global Sports Podcast Network, but one we're very much looking forward to. It's going to be your definitive guide to everything FIFA World Cup related in the run-up to 2026, the biggest sporting event in history.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, let's do some introductions. It's not just me, Ken Davis, on this podcast. I'm joined by acclaimed football media presenter, Nick Britton. Welcome, Nick. are you doing?
00:00:54
Nick Britten
I'm very well, Ken. I'm very excited to be here. This is going to be the start, I think, of something really, really interesting. It's going to be a great podcast to work on.
00:01:04
Nick Britten
And I think for anybody who is interested in the World Cup, this is going to be, as you say, a
Podcast Goals: Becoming World Cup Experts
00:01:09
Nick Britten
definitive guide. So every week we'll be doing a deep dive into all things that matter in the World Cup. And if you stick with us, and I'm sure you will, and I certainly hope you will, by the time the competition actually comes around, you'll be a world-leading expert.
00:01:23
Nick Britten
and you'll be able to impress everybody you know.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Imagine the water cooler moments that you're going to be able to deliver if you listen to this. As the World Cup excitement builds, you're going to be the most knowledgeable person in your office about every aspect, about every confederation, about every team and about every player.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So stick with us over the course of the next 66 weeks. And you'll be able to take your A-level or whatever the equivalent is around the world in all things World Cup. We're going to be your one-stop shop for everything World Cup related ah and all the twists and turns that's going to make this unmissable and lead to the champions being defeated.
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
crowned in July 2026.
Ken Davis's Background and Network
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That seems a long time away. So my name is Ken Davis. I am the co-founder of something called Global Sports Podcast Network, which if you're not aware of, you need to be aware of because there's some amazing content on that.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick is my co-founder of that organization. But Nick, you've done loads of other things in terms of media stuff. So it might be worth doing some ah a little bit of a deep dive into you first, then we'll get into the World Cup.
00:02:35
Nick Britten
but Yeah, because I'd like to get to know all our listeners around the world and viewers as much as so it's important that get to know you and I, Ken. ah So my background has always been in media and journalism, in print and in broadcast. I've worked around sports and around football for a long, long, long time and on lots of levels, doing lots of things. So ah very excited, as I said at the start, very excited to be joining you for this, what will be a fascinating journey over the next year and bit.
World Cup 2026 Overview: Hosts and Format
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It certainly will. Now, there's a lot to get through. We've got a ton of stuff to get through. We're gonna try and keep these things to half an hour every time, but you know we'll we'll need to cover a lot of ground. So let's start with this.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why is it going to be different? We know it's going to be different, but how is it going to be different? And it might be good just to take us through that so we know exactly what we're dealing with.
00:03:30
Nick Britten
Yeah, for the first, there's lots of firsts. There's lots of firsts in this World Cup. ah For the first time, there's going to be split over three host countries. So it's going to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and that's never happened before.
00:03:44
Nick Britten
um And within that, there are going to be 16 host cities. There'll be 16 stadiums to play at, and that's the most since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:03:57
Nick Britten
And within all of that, ah the competition will be split into three regions, the Western region, Eastern and Central. And there's going to be the most matches ever been played. There's going to be 104 games at this World Cup.
00:04:12
Nick Britten
And that's because there's going to be more teams than there's ever been before. And for the first time ever, it's going to kick off with 48 teams. So straight away, it's going to have a very different feel to it.
00:04:25
Nick Britten
There's going to be a real, and it's called the Festival of Football.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:04:27
Nick Britten
There's going to be football everywhere. literally everywhere for three or four weeks. There'll loads and loads of games, loads more teams. It is truly, I mean, FIFA wanted to bring more teams into is that this to make it and a really sort of an absolutely global competition.
00:04:41
Nick Britten
And this will be, this will be absolutely amazing.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolute global event, 56 days, 104 matches, as Nick said. That's 40 more than last time. It's 40% more than last time. And last time felt like it went on forever.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is going to be an absolute festival of football. And we've not seen anything quite like this. So it's going to be something quite unique.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, ah so let's... So that's the scale of it. Let's just think about the the host countries, the key dates, the key venues. I mean, what are we what do we when does this whole thing start?
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where does it start? And how does it trundle on from there?
00:05:27
Nick Britten
Well, it kicks off on the 11th of June, 2026. twenty twenty six And first game is the Stadio Azteca in Mexico City. um And that's going to be, well, if we do any any England supporter, and Ken and I are both based in the UK, any England supporter will remember that very well because that is the 1986 World Cup, which is hosted, of course, by Mexico.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I remember that place for some reason.
00:05:51
Nick Britten
That is where the hand of God comes. took place. That's when Diego Maradona rose above Peter Shelton in the course finals and punched the ball into the net, running away as if nothing had happened.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where was VAR when we needed it?
00:06:05
Nick Britten
and
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:06:07
Nick Britten
It's very much so. Every England fan will...
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I still remember that game, though, for Peter reid trying to catch Maradona. ah when Maradona scored the second goal.
00:06:15
Nick Britten
Well, funny thing... He's
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Peter Reid's still trying to catch him today, i think.
00:06:19
Nick Britten
still looking around wondering where on earth he's gone. Of course, that game is remembered for the hand of God. But what it isn't remembered for and what it should be remembered for is Maradona's second goal, where he just picked up the ball, you know, around around halfway line and just waltzed around the England players.
00:06:36
Nick Britten
It was a fantastic goal. He just ran and ran and ran and he just beat player after player after player. In fact, I think at one stage, i thought he was going to run back to the halfway line and just do it all over again before he put the ball in the back of the net.
00:06:48
Nick Britten
That's how good he was and that's how easy it was. ah Phenomenal goal, but nobody remembers that, of course. It's all about the hand of God. So the first game then is Stadio Azteca on the 11th of June. And then the last game, so the final will be held on the 12th of July.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:07:05
Nick Britten
ah Sorry, it won't be held on the 12th of July. It'll be held at the New York, New Jersey Met Stadium. I'd say on the 12th of June, I was going to say. and That's when the other hosts kick off. So Mexico will kick us off.
00:07:16
Nick Britten
The America and the Canada teams will kick us off on the 12th of June. And those games will take place in Toronto for Canada and Los Angeles for the USA team. And that's where they're going to be playing their games. And the final, as I say, ah played at the magnificent stadium in New York, New Jersey. It's an absolutely brilliant stadium. We're going to talk about stadiums in a little bit. So lots and lots to play. Kicking off on the 11th of June, 2026.
00:07:41
Nick Britten
twenty twenty six
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great finals on the 19th of July, 2026. So we've got just weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks of football. It's going to be amazing. So...
Qualification Process Explained
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's something we need to explain because this is obviously the definitive World Cup podcast. So it's pretty important that i explain the qualification process.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because as Nick mentioned, 48 teams involved in this, 16 more than last time. So let me talk you through exactly how qualification works because we're still very much in the qualification phase.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So make yourself a cup of coffee like like I did. Sit back. See if you can follow this. So are you sitting comfortably? Here we go. There are six confederations in FIFA around the world. FIFA is the big global body. There are six confederations.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Each confederation has direct qualifiers and playoff spots because six teams will play off for two qualification entries at the end of qualification.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they're from all over the world. So, two of the 48 teams are going to qualify via this little playoff competition. And that means there are 46 direct entry qualifiers.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, there are three host countries, Canada, Mexico, and the USA. So that leaves 43 direct qualification places.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And how are those 43 direct qualification places allocated to each confederation? Well, remember there are six confederations. Let's go through them one by one.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's the AFC, which is Asia. They get eight direct qualification places. There's the CAF, which is the African Confederation. They get nine direct places.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's CONCACAF, which North America and the Caribbean. They have six places, but three of them are taken up by the hosts, Canada, Mexico, and the US. s So there's only three left for CONCACAF.
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
CONBEMOL, which is the South American Confederation, they get six direct places. The OFC, which is Oceania, that's places like ah New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, they get one.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And UEFA, where I'm sitting now, where Nick is sitting now, the European Confederation, they get 16, 16 direct slots. So that's 43.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, just on the playoffs, coming back to the playoffs, again, 14. The places in the playoffs, these six places that are playing for two quald qualification berths, they're split between the confederations as well.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
AFC Asia has one. CAF Africa has one. CONCACAF, North America and Caribbean, they have two playoff places. CONMEBOL in South America, they have one.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oceania has one. And UEFA has none. So that's how the six playoffs are organized. So that is how it all works. That's how the 48 teams are agreed on. Now, the only weird thing in this, which is quite new, is that always the reigning champions used to get automatic qualification.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not happening this year. So, Hodge-O-Tina have got to go and qualify like everyone else. So, that's how it works. 48 teams, 43 directly, six ah playoff berths that go down to two and the three host countries. So, that's how it all works. That's how we end up with 48 teams at the end of the day.
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick, is that clear? Because I'm going to be asking questions.
00:12:00
Nick Britten
I didn't catch that. Can you just do that again?
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
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Current State of World Cup Qualification
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that qualification process is already underway. In fact, yeah there are certain countries that are already eliminated. So it might be good idea just to take us through the current state of qualification, Nick. So over to you.
00:13:13
Nick Britten
Yeah, all all of the um various confederations have started playing other than UEFA. And UEFA kick off their qualification in couple of weeks' time. 21st of March is the first round of fixtures.
00:13:24
Nick Britten
I think it um it's probably worth saying, if you couldn't quite keep up with what Ken was saying, and don't worry, because actually the next the next ah set of podcasts, we're going to be doing a deep dive into each of the confederations and having a proper look at the teams and their
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:13:42
Nick Britten
and the qualification process. But just to give us an idea as we kick off, I think Combo is the most advanced. They've actually played 12 games. They have a ah league of 10.
00:13:54
Nick Britten
um As Ken said before, I think six go through automatically. One goes into goes into a playoff, essentially. They've played 12 games so far. Argentina are top with 25 points from 12 games. It is pretty much, as you might expect...
00:14:11
Nick Britten
The only little bit of jeopardy, and is a little bit of jeopardy, but it's worth noting, is that Brazil are in fifth.
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh. ooh
00:14:20
Nick Britten
Okay? and We knew that it's not. Having but played 12 games, Brazil in fifth, having played, they've got 18 points for 12 games. um Bolivia, who are in seventh, and that's dropping out of it altogether, so seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, have failed to qualify.
00:14:36
Nick Britten
They've got 13 points, so they're they're a little bit of a way behind. So you'd expect Brazil to be safe. But that's the only thing that you're looking at that otherwise you'd expect the rest. Argentina top, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, second, third and fourth, Brazil fifth.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who's bottom of that league, Nick?
00:14:52
Nick Britten
Bottom of the league is Peru. And I'm quite sad about this because it very much looks like Peru aren't going to qualify.
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh,
00:14:58
Nick Britten
And I remember Peru from the sort of 1980s World Cup, particularly beat Scotland, a very famous player.
00:15:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's so... 78, 78, Kubias smashing the ball into the net, the Crystal Palace kick.
00:15:04
Nick Britten
Yeah, it's the same thing. That's right. Yeah. That's right. And I've always remembered Peru. They had that great kit, you know, with a strong with ah the old Palace kit from the 70s. and And I'm ashamed. I always like to look out for Peru, but it doesn't look like we're going to be seeing them at the 2026 World Cup.
00:15:22
Nick Britten
and
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:15:23
Nick Britten
Other than that, it is pretty much as as as you might expect. So if you move on to CONCACAF, you've got, they've only played a couple of games, but Honduras have started well. I mean, the teams that you'd expect to start well have started well. There's no real surprise there.
00:15:37
Nick Britten
um If you move on to CAF in Africa, they've only played four games each. Egypt's doing well. Sudan, Rwanda, Morocco, Ivory Coast. All the teams you'd expect to do well are kind of top of the groups.
00:15:50
Nick Britten
Nobody's unbeaten. Everybody's dropped points already. and The most that anybody's got is 10 out of four, and a few teams have got that.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
how many How many groups do we have in CAF?
00:15:57
Nick Britten
ah So that's well.
00:16:01
Nick Britten
like got nine groups.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:16:03
Nick Britten
nine Nine groups. So there's a lot of...
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nine groups of four, is that
00:16:08
Nick Britten
Uh, nine groups four, exactly that, yeah. No, it's not, it's nine groups six, sorry.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
that? in 30, 16.
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nine groups of six. 54 teams.
00:16:12
Nick Britten
Nine groups of six.
00:16:14
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:16:17
Nick Britten
yeah know Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
wonder who's the worst one.
00:16:19
Nick Britten
Uh, Chad aren't doing so well. I'm afraid to say, Chad have got off to a bad start. Four games, four defeats. It's not gonna for Chad, is it?
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chad, yeah, they've got a lot of ground to make up, Chad, haven't they?
00:16:30
Nick Britten
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sad, sad times for Chad. um But, yeah, on we go. Into Asia then. They've got oh yeah the same, actually They've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, nine groups of four, though, slightly less, nine groups of four.
00:16:44
Nick Britten
They're six games in. Qatar started well, six games, 16 points. ah Japan have won six out of six. They're on 18 points. Korea doing well. UAE doing well. Again, it's the sort of teams, Iran doing well.
00:16:57
Nick Britten
The sorts of teams that you would expect um ah to do well. Australia are in there, by the way. They've won six out of six as well. they're in the the Asian Football qualification. um And finally, Oceana, they've only got two groups, as eight teams.
00:17:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the one I'm really interested in. I think there should be a separate Oceania World Cup just with Oceania teams. Who's top and who's bottom?
00:17:18
Nick Britten
Yeah. Well, New Zealand, there are two groups, and not surprisingly, well, New Caledonia are top of Group A, ah New Zealand's top of Group B, which is exactly what, that's exactly what you might expect.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And who's bottom of these two groups?
00:17:30
Nick Britten
So,
00:17:33
Nick Britten
Samoa are bottom with zero points. They're the worst team in it so far. Sad to say. So they've got a bit of ground.
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we won't be seeing the Samoas.
00:17:39
Nick Britten
They they can go like they but they can go and play Chad, perhaps, and you know at least at least one of them will win a game.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't imagine. Who would win in the Chad Samoa Games thing?
00:17:47
Nick Britten
so I don't know. it would be I'd hope it wouldn't be a dull 0-0 draw.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It definitely would not be a Dornilna.
00:17:52
Nick Britten
Samoa have got a goal difference of minus 14 after three games, so you know not great.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's Derby County standard.
00:18:00
Nick Britten
but Thank you very much. and So that's it. And UEFA kick off on 21st of March. So the early pace setters, guys, it's the early pace setters are, as you might expect, no great surprises other than, as I said, Brazil, maybe a little bit of jeopardy in there, but I'm sure it won't work out that way.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:18:14
Nick Britten
And as I said, as we go forward into these World Cups, we'll be doing a very much a deep dive into each of these federations and having a really good look at the teams and the standings as we move on.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we start with CONCACAF next week, so I'm looking forward to that. ah And, hey, there's going to be a lot of twists and turns in the qualification process even before we get to the World Cup proper.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencastr came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone, AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, and you won't have heard any of them,
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
The World Cup is beginning, but how is it going to roll out?
Tournament Structure: Groups and Knockouts
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
How will it unfold? What is the format once we kick off? Well, this is how it works.
00:19:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's 48 teams, as we said earlier, 16 more than the previous seven tournaments. This is way bigger than anything we've ever dealt with before. It's a radical, radical change.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So at the competition, there will be 48 teams who will be split into 12 groups. So that is up from eight groups last time. So 12 groups of four with me so far.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And therefore, three games will be played in each group. And the top two of those groups 12 groups will automatically qualify for the knockout stages. So where there so there's 24 teams right away.
00:20:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, the other eight of the 32 teams in the knockout stages will be found by the best third-placed teams.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, the thing that kind of occurred to me when I was researching this was, I bet, I bet there'll be a situation where you can't separate one team from another.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to have to do a deep dive into exactly how they're going to fix that. It could be, don't it could be a toss of tross of a coin. It's been used before in the World Cup, but it's it's something we're going to have a look at as well. So what you've got is 24 teams, the top two of each group qualifying automatically, and then the eight best third place teams.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So after three games, you've got 32 teams left. Then we enter the knockout phase, and this is going to be much bigger and much more exciting.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think this is really good innovation because everyone loves the knockout games. Everyone kind of hates the group games because it can be a bit pedestrian, but there's nothing pedestrian about the knockout games.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So everything from then on, from the round of 32 is a knockout phase. So then you go 32, 16, 8, 4, and then the final.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that is five knockout games for the eventual winner and the runner-up, and three games played in the group stages.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a total of eight games. They also will be a third and fourth place ah match I've never quite understood why they bother with that, but they insist on bothering with that.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the winner, the eventual winner of the competition will have played eight games in the competition way more than before. And it's going to be a real test.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going a real test of fitness. It's going to be a real test of solidarity. going to be a real test of the winning in mentality of each of the teams.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's how it's all going to work from the start to the finish. Any takes on that, Nick, that you want to share with us?
00:22:15
Nick Britten
It's just good. It's just more football, isn't it? I mean, for the first time ever, we've got that round of 32, which I think is going to be great. And as you say, it feels like it's going to be, I think the pace of it will feel a bit quicker.
00:22:28
Nick Britten
Because when we all get very excited, then then the group games, and then after about two group games, it all there's always a lull, isn't there?
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of games every day.
00:22:34
Nick Britten
Because there's quite a few dead rubbers and teams qualify and they put out sort of weakened teams and all, which is fine. I don't mind that. but But I think this this will feel like the pace will be kept up.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:22:44
Nick Britten
a little quicker. And of course, with an extra round of and knockout football, it brings extra jeopardy to it, which is, again, great. It's just exactly what we want.
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it is. So that's all very exciting. Can't wait for that to happen. We're goingnna we're going to get not get a minute's sleep, are we, for that that six weeks? We're literally going to be in the studio just broadcasting constantly.
00:23:08
Nick Britten
Which is good. That's what we want because we're going to bring you all, you know everything you want to know.
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:23:11
Nick Britten
Everything you about the World Cup. you'll be You'll be hearing from Ken and i so regularly, you'll feel like we're your best mates.
00:23:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be like old friends. Right. So that's the kind of format that we wanted to get through in this initial podcast. All of this podcast is going to be about half an hour. we're going to take massive deep dives over the next six episodes in each of the different confederations.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we'll move on to some other things.
Personal Excitement and Unique Aspects
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the first thing I wanted or the last thing I wanted to mention is What are you looking forward to most, Nick, about this particular competition?
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah what is What is it about the the the difference, the scale, simply the the the different trajectory that this World Cup's going on to compared to the earlier ones that that make you really look forward to it?
00:24:07
Nick Britten
Well, there's a couple of things I want to highlight. I'm a bit of a stadium geek. I love football stadiums. And I'm very excited to look at some of the stadiums. I don't normally get to see them because I'm not a big NFL fan. I know you are, Ken. I'm not.
00:24:20
Nick Britten
ah But a lot of the host stadiums are NFL stadiums. And America, ah think, does stadia as well as anybody in the world. They really do. and and
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:24:29
Nick Britten
Because i have to, particularly with NFL. They have to create kind of event stadia. So I'm very excited about the stadiums. ah stadiums and we're going to do a deep dive into those stadiums in ah in a later episode. And I'm very pleased to say, I have to say, I'm very pleased to say that the stadium that they're use are existing ones, because I'm always a little bit concerned.
00:24:46
Nick Britten
So when we had Qatar World Cup, the last one in 2022, of course, they had to and rebuild, sorry, they had to build new stadiums. They built seven new stadiums. You always worry what the legacy of those are. And it's still, if you look at those seven, yeah one has been kept as the national stadium for Qatar, that's fine. One has been essentially dismantled because it was built to be dismantled and moved and it's expected to pop up at another World Cup in the future, again, which is fine.
00:25:12
Nick Britten
The other five, um they are being repurposed, but they're all kind of being repurposed for community use and educational facility. I'm not sure Qatar's big enough to warrant five stadia that are just simply used for community use and educational. So um ah I'll be keeping a keen. I'll be very interested interested to see in five years' time whether that those are still being used.
00:25:32
Nick Britten
but these are So I'm really looking forward to seeing the stadia. um I'm looking forward to, stroke not looking forward to, crazy new things the Americans introduce into football, ah such as an elongated halftime with shows and things like that.
00:25:48
Nick Britten
and We were talking earlier, Ken, around mad things the Americans have tried to do before. Prior to the 1994 World Cup, there was a suggestion that the goals would be made bigger, so there'd be more goals. So I'm looking forward to mad things that the Americans want to do to introduce football.
00:26:03
Nick Britten
and into football. And finally, I'm looking forward to the World Cup returning to the summer because, of course, the last time it's played in the winter, the World Cup should be played in the summer.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:11
Nick Britten
It should be nice and hot. It should be nice and sunny. That's all part of the experience, I think. mean Obviously, when it was in Qatar, it was hot and sunny there, but it certainly was not the sunny where we are. And so I'm looking forward to returning to the summer.
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100% on all those things. i'm I'm quite cool with the yeah there extra razzmatazz we're going to get in the American ah and Mexican and Canadian World Cup.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah By the way, if you if if you like what you hear, by the way, and you want another dose of what we do, we also have another book podcast called That Saturday Feeling, which you can listen to as well. It's all part of Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
We take a rather deeper dive into all those kind of things and a kind of sideways glance at all the stories that are happening in football or soccer, whatever you call it. We have a good time on that. We've been running that for quite a long time. It's become very popular.
00:27:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what am I looking forward to in relation to the World Cup most? I always love seeing teams that I wouldn't normally see. i with all due respect to Iran,
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And believe me, I've got a lot of respect for Iran. I would not normally watch them with interest. So I love that. And I always end up picking a team that becomes my favorite team that is completely unknown to me.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, I'm always singing the prayer. Oh, did just did you watch Iran? iran Great up front. Dodgy at back. They've just become my favourite team. So think one of the things we're going to do through this podcast series is to pick a favourite team and follow them through the qualification process. In fact, we're going to do that.
00:27:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've made an executive decision. um So I love the romance of the World Cup. I love the unknown player. who emerges, no one's ever heard of them, but earn their massive payday because some desperate team in the Premier League sees him and says, we need him for £34 million, pounds even though he's only ever played 17 games, but he scored twice in the World Cup.
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I love that. And I love the upsets. I love... argentina being knocked out by the North Pole or what what whatever.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think North Pole have got a team in this year.
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:28:39
Nick Britten
Was that a game where Santa scored a hat-trick?
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... That's right. That's right. Rudolph on the wing. So...
00:28:49
Nick Britten
He can fly, to be fair, he can fly.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He can, there's no stopping him, to be honest, once he gets going. ah So, yeah, I love the upsets. And therefore, I love the the idea of having round of 32, because more upsets just feeds into the narrative, feeds into the story, feeds into the the passion and feeds into the romance. So I'm all for that. So that's what I'm looking forward to.
Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I hope we've whetted your appetite.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's whetted my appetite. And we're still 66 weeks away, but, you know, It can't come soon enough. And we need 66 weeks to be able to cover all the amazing stories that are going to come through ah the World Cup all the way from now until the 19th of July. So join us next time ah when we take a deep dive into CONCACAF. CONCACAF, remember, is the North American and Caribbean Confederation.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got to start there because that's where the World Cup is being hosted. ah But, you know, if we take Mexico, United States and Canada of the equation, there's going to be some opportunities for some of the other teams. And we'll look at all of those other teams next time. So join us next time. Nick, it's been great to do it. it's been I thought it would be a good, fun thing to do. It certainly is a good, fun thing to do. And anything you want to add before we say goodbye?
00:30:07
Nick Britten
This is the start of a great journey, Kenny. This is going to be really, really good fun. I think we'll all be, you, me, and everybody around the world listening to this will become such World Cup experts within the next year.
00:30:20
Nick Britten
There'll be nothing you don't know.
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to amaze our friends with our knowledge, let me tell you. Right, have a great have a great one, everyone. Have a lovely weekend wherever you are in the world. Hope your team wins 7-0. I know that can't happen because a lot of people will be playing a lot of other people.
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But until next time, this has been Road to the World Cup 26. Look forward to seeing you next time.