The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina may not have been a classic, but Spain were very worthy winners on the day and the most consistent performers throughout the competition.

Once Donald Trump was eventually ushered from the winners' podium, the Spanish team wildly celebrated its second-ever World Cup victory.

You can celebrate Spain's World Cup win too with this full-size replica of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Official Trophy that's just been revealed by Lego. Pre-order yours now at Lego.com for €199.99

Built from 2845 Lego bricks, this fantastic recreation has the same dimensions as the real World Cup Trophy. Spain's name is featured on the base along with past World Cup winners.

The Lego recreation is superb, and it's definitely an object of desire that any football fan would go nuts for – even more so if they support the Spanish team.

Unlike FIFA's 18-carat gold version, this Lego one has a hinged flap in the globe that opens up to reveal a removable Lego Minifigure of the World Cup and a recreation of the winner's podium.

At €199.99, it doesn't come cheap though. That said, the price is the going rate for premium Lego builds and this 2026 World Cup Trophy is definitely one of them. It's only available from Lego Spain too, but can be shipped elsewhere.

Whether this will sell out on pre-order, we cannot know. But if you want to get your hands on your very own Champions Edition Lego World Cup, we'd suggest signing up to buy one as soon as you can.

For more football-related Lego, check out our feature on the fantastic Lego World Cup and player-themed sets already released.

There is no greater showcase for a united world of sports than the World Cup. In 2026, matches at international soccer's pinnacle were played in the United States of America for the second time.

World Cup 2026 is the biggest in the competition's 96-year history and 11 of its 16 venues were in the USA. Consequently, the majority of the World Cup's 48 squads set up their team base camps around the country.

Of those, four selected nearby Hilton Hotels for their accommodation with hopes of staying from early June to the middle of July. All four made it past the group stage. One went all the way....

Which World Cup teams stayed at Hilton Hotels?

For many of the teams who qualify for the World Cup, the logistical operations involved in taking a travelling party across the globe to compete can be a scramble for the best facilities.

Whether they're booking training centers or ensuring teams have somewhere perfectly located to serve as their accommodation, the race to lock in plans is the hidden competition behind the competition.

Algeria set up their training base at the University of Kansas in Kansas City, Missouri. Their accommodation was the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lawrence in nearby Lawrence.

Located within a couple of miles of downtown Lawrence offers easy access to local amenities and an indoor saltwater pool.

Algeria finished third in Group J thanks to a win over Jordan and a dramatic draw with Austria before losing to Switzerland in the round of 16. Two of their group stage matches were played at Kansas City Stadium, but they were ultimately knocked out north of the border in Canada.

2022 semi-finalists Morocco reached the quarter-finals this time around from their team training base in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. The Atlas Lions stayed at the neighbouring Somerset Hills Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

Morocco played in Group C. They drew with Brazil in their opening match at New York New Jersey Stadium before wins over Scotland and Haiti saw them finish second in the group.

A penalty shootout win against the Netherlands in the round of 32 was followed by a straightforward victory over co-hosts Canada in the round of 16. A quarter-final tie against France proved a bridge too far and the dream of returning for another game in Jersey fizzled out.

In some respects the surprise package of World Cup 2026, Paraguay qualified from the group stage courtesy of a win against Turkey and a draw with Australia.

Paraguay were comfortably beaten by the USMNT in their opening match at Los Angeles Stadium. Their next two matches were played in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the team's base camp in San Jose was located.

Their accommodation was at Signia by Hilton San Jose, which is located perfectly for the city center and Paraguay's team base.

They had mixed fortunes after leaving California, shocking Germany in the round of 32 but getting knocked out in the next round by semi-finalists France.

Spain, the team that defeated France in the last four to book their place in the World Cup final for the second time, based themselves in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the duration of the tournament.

They stayed on the edge of the city center at the brand new Embassy Suites Chattanooga by Hilton, which boasts proximity to the Riverfront district on the banks of the Tennessee River.

The 2010 World Cup winners drew 0-0 with Cape Verde in their first match in Group H but followed up with a win over Saudi Arabia. Both games were played in Atlanta before a win against Uruguay south of the border.

Much-traveled Spain beat Austria in California in the round of 32, Portugal at Dallas Stadium in the round of 16 and Belgium back at Los Angeles Stadium. They defeated France 2-0 in the semi-final to return to the final for the first time since 2010.

For more Hilton Hotel options, click HERE

Mauricio Pochettino and the United States Men's National Team exited World Cup 2026 in the round of 16 after breezing through the group stage and defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Stadiums in Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco were decked out in red and white in support of the USMNT throughout their World Cup quest, and the team's jersey could be seen in its thousands each time.

If you were hanging on to see how far the USMNT got in the competition before committing to picking up an authentic match jersey, why not spend your $175 on an adventure instead?

Hilton Hotels where you can stay for less than $175

There are a number of Hilton Hotels where you can stay for less than $175 per night, tremendous value that comes with the added bonus of not being subject to the whims of the sports gods.

FourFourTwo has picked out a selection of favourites, with places to visit and sights to see without spending big on a night's accommodation. Prices are as listed on Hilton.com. Let's explore!

Where better to start in the spirit of exploration than with the greatest frontier of them all? Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake is right next door to the Johnson Space Center on the banks of Clear Lake and is just five miles from all the fun of Kemah Boardwalk – all from $139.

Picture a Hilton Hotels resort on the beach in Florida. That image in your mind is the famous Hilton Dayton Beach Oceanfront Resort, bookable from $141 per night and truly unbeatable for views over the Atlantic and proximity to the Daytona International Speedway.

Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon, bookable from $131, is 15 minutes from downtown Miami but offers proximity to Miami International Mall. More importantly, the hotel itself is built for summer and located on the picturesque edge of the lagoon headland.

Bookable from $154 per night, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is a waterside hotel that's just a mile away from the beach and less than three miles from the city center. Las Olas is nearby for shopping and dining too.

Hilton Memphis can be booked from $158 and is located 12 miles from Graceland, where 200,000 square feet of museums and attractions are just waiting to satisfy your appetite for Elvis. Book yourself into the higher floors for views across the city.

You can stay at Hilton Atlanta from $136 per night. It's one of the closest Hilton Hotels to a World Cup 2026 host stadium and its downtown location means it's within easy walking distance of Centennial Olympic Park, the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the World of Coca-Cola too.

Over in the Pacific Northwest, the attraction of the Hilton Portland Downtown needs no explanation. Located in the heart of the city, it's a stone's throw from all the arts, culture and cuisine the gem of Oregon has to offer. You can book for less than the price of an authentic USMNT jersey.

Bookable from $155, Hilton Santa Clara is right across the street from San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 16. It's the home of the San Francisco 49ers and can be easily reached from San Jose International Airport.

If it's a day at the beach you're looking for, look no further than Hilton Long Beach from $157 a night. It's a mile from the sands of the Pacific coast and close to plenty of delicious eating options, too.

It’s the game within the game. Every four years, ‘football boot nerds’ anticipate new launches from the major boot brands.

Every boot is freshened up and a new version released in a specific World Cup colourway, often as part of a pack that carbon-dates a tournament in the minds of true enthusiasts.

The most lucrative players – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo now, David Beckham and Ronaldo in days gone by – are treated to bespoke versions. For most, it’s straight into the lead colourways for the duration of the tournament and then a new one in time for August.

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Michael Olise is a creative exception boot enthusiasts can love

Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, who is ranked at no.4 in FourFourTwo's list of the best right-wingers in the world right now, doesn’t seem to be interested in fitting in when standing out is an option.

The former Premier League player is shining in a France shirt at the World Cup but eagle-eyed boot lovers will be neither unaware nor surprised that his footwear is different than what might be expected.

“Olise should be every football boot nerd’s favourite player right now,” says boot expert Subomi Kushanu.

“He completely disrupts the status quo when it comes to the professional game. He’s famously worn the [Nike] Hypervenom Phantom 3 since his days at Reading and hasn’t signed a deal with a brand like a player of his status usually would just so he can continue wearing them.”

Ordinarily, the major boot brands put their contracted players in the latest boot. That’s what they’re paid for and it doesn’t much matter whether the colours clash with their team kits or wouldn’t be the same ones a player would buy.

It’s a compromise between control and cash, and Olise appears to be willing to prioritise the former. These are the tools of his trade, after all.

By opting out of a boot deal thus far, Olise could be leaving lots of money on the table. The Bayern man is surely in demand as his career goes from strength to strength.

Notwithstanding the obvious fact that he’s effectively a free agent and will command a huge deal should he ever decide to accept one, it’s estimated that the top players can pull in £2 million or more a year.

Olise would easily qualify for that bracket, while a negotiating brand might seek to benchmark him against international teammate Kylian Mbappe, whose 10-year Nike deal is understood to be worth around £1.4 million each year.

The London-born 24-year-old would also have to sacrifice his style freedom, albeit with the benefit of his boots being supplied rather than having to be tracked down.

“Since Nike discontinued this boot in 2018, he’s actually had to go out of his way to source them off resellers on Instagram,” adds Kushanu.

“Famously, he matches the colourway of the boot with the kit he’s wearing each matchday.”

That’s why Olise has played in blue, white or mint green Hypervenom boots throughout the World Cup, which has otherwise been a sea of electric pink.

You have to say that’s magnificent.

When EA Sports and FIFA went their separate ways in 2023, gamers immediately began to speculate what the next game carrying the FIFA name would look like – and on the evidence of FIFA World Cup Launch Edition, which you can now play on Netflix, FC 26 has absolutely nothing to worry about.

To be fair to FIFA, the game is incredibly easy to play. If you’ve got a Netflix account you can get it up and running on your TV or laptop in a couple of minutes; you just need to download the Netflix Controller app to your phone and you’re good to go.

The game only has three modes: Kick-Off for one-off exhibition matches; Tournament, which lets you play through a full World Cup finals as one of the 48 qualified teams; and Penalty Shootout, which does exactly what it says on the tin. That ‘Launch Edition’ suffix suggests there might be more on the way eventually, but for now, that’s your lot.

Early warning signs

The benefits of that FIFA licence are immediately obvious. The line-up graphics include real photos of the players, all the official kits have been recreated, and every stadium is present and correct. On commentary you get FIFA alumni Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend, which is probably the first warning sign.

The generic duo were axed from EA’s series almost a decade ago, but much of FIFA World Cup Launch Edition feels even more dated than that.

Each Tournament match you play begins with a fairly detailed pre-amble from Tyldesley. The veteran commentator has plenty to say about each host city and stadium, and he nicely outlines the qualifying campaigns and recent World Cup history of the two teams, but play just a handful of games and you’ll hear the same phrases over and over again.

Lines of commentary are sometimes even repeated twice in a row, and the names of the teams were clearly recorded separately and inserted afterwards, which is intensely nostalgic for anyone who played football games in the ‘90s, but not great for one released in 2026.

On multiple occasions, Tyldesley had embarked on one of his scene-setting monologues when a goal was scored, but he was so caught up in detailing the team’s pedigree that he failed to respond until long after the game had kicked off again, doing so as excitedly as if the goal had only just gone in.

Using your phone to navigate the fairly basic menus is slick, but if you’ve never played a game using a touchscreen instead of an actual gamepad (which isn’t supported here), it might take a while to get the hang of.

The controls are simple enough though. The left-hand side of the screen controls movement, while tapping, swiping and holding the right-hand side allows you to pass, shoot, tackle and sprint. At least, that’s the idea – there’s often a general sense of disconnection between what you’re doing with your hands and what happens on the pitch, particularly when it comes to defending.

On the default difficulty setting it’s not a major hindrance; the AI-controlled opposition isn’t proficient enough to cause you any real problems. But winning every game comfortably is no fun.

Take the difficulty up a notch and even with an England side packed with midfielders, gaps the size of the Grand Canyon would often appear on the pitch. Defenders tend to have all the urgency of a glacier, tackling is vague and imprecise, and the game frequently changes the player you’re controlling at the worst possible time, allowing opposition attackers to saunter through and take a free shot on goal. Considering attempts from outside the box seem to go in about 90% of the time, that’s a fairly major problem.

It feels a bit better if you get the ball at your feet and run at the opposing defence. The touchscreen means you can make some fairly exact adjustments with your left thumb to scamper down the touchline, but often the players move with all the agility and grace of a paddle steamer. Even when you hold the screen to sprint, you have to wait two to three business days for the player to pick up the pace.

Then there are the graphical glitches. The very first goal I scored in the game saw the ball go right through the back of the net; players sometimes just skate across the turf without moving their legs; and even when they do work the animations make even a 20-year-old Pro Evo game look cutting edge.

To be fair, the big-name players are generally recognisable, although it does look like Instagram’s Badly Drawn Footballers was responsible for drawing their faces. This game’s version of Harry Kane wouldn’t get much work as a lookalike, but I do like how much Anthony Gordon looks like Rambo.

It’s all just so rough around the edges, with each half ending incredibly abruptly, sometimes even as a goal-bound shot is about to cross the line. Fortunately, though, there are no hydration breaks. You’d think FIFA would insist on including them in order to shoehorn in a few adverts.

I’m not hugely surprised that FIFA World Cup Launch Edition is so underwhelming. It is, after all, a free-to-play game on Netflix, not a big-budget alternative to FC 26, but it’s still disappointing.

The conscious uncoupling that occurred between EA and FIFA should have presented football’s all-powerful governing body with an opportunity to go away and, with the huge resources it has at its disposal, fund the creation of a game worthy of the World Cup name.

Instead we have a half-arsed game that plays like something that was released more than two decades ago. Perhaps that’s why the soundtrack includes Blur’s Song 2, which famously featured on FIFA ‘98, and should act here as a warning to anyone expecting something more modern than that.

It's hot, very hot, here in the UK, and it's going to get a lot hotter before the weekend. Temperatures will be hitting 30+ degrees in many parts of the south of England over the next 48 hours, which is loads hotter than the majority of World Cup venues.

Scorching days means hot evenings watching the World Cup, so to help make enjoying the football a cooler affair, I've put together a list of useful heat-busting items currently reduced in price at Amazon (plus some great deals on TVs and soundbars).

Amazon Prime Day (well, three days to be more accurate) sales are currently in full swing. I've scoured Amazon's listings for the best deals on all the stuff I've listed below. To get the lowest prices and free delivery though, you'll need an Amazon Prime account that costs £8.99 a month. You can get a 30-day trial for free, but just remember to stick a reminder in your phone to cancel it before the trial ends.

For more World Cup-related gear, check out our articles on England and Scotland retro shirts, bucket hats and caps, and Lego World Cup sets.

Mini fridge and cooler deals

A mini fridge or cooler in front of the TV means you won't miss a moment of World Cup action while grabbing extra refreshments. I've picked out some compact models that are ideal for the living room or the garden – if watching outdoors.

Tower fan deals

A decent fan that moves swathes of air around can make all the difference indoors when the temperatures are high. There's decent savings to be had on these models that will keep things cooler during World Cup fever.

BBQ deals

Admittedly, standing in front of a barbecue is unlikely to make you any cooler. Your standing will improve in the opinion of all your mates when you cook up a feast for your World Cup garden party, though.

Outdoor shade deals

If you're having an outdoor World Cup watch party, getting some shade to keep you cooler and stop the sun from reflecting on your TV is a must. Here are a couple of different shady options with worthwhile discounts.

TV deals

Ok, technically a new TV won't keep you cool, but the ones I've selected do look pretty damn chill. Maybe you could stick one in the coolest room in your house? I'm stretching the theme way beyond breaking here, but I couldn't resist as these are all top deals.

Soundbar deals

Not many soundbars are renowned for their cooling properties, but if you're watching the World Cup with a crowd or need to project the match commentary outdoors, you will need some hefty audio. Handily, you can pick up one with a decent discount right now on Amazon.

Weather-wise, today is already a hot one, and temperatures are set to ramp up still further over the week. That makes wearing a hat a very good idea, as it will help you stay safe in the sun. Donning one emblazoned with the Three Lions of England or the Scottish Lion Rampant is, of course, even better, so that you can show your support for our two Home Nations competing in the FIFA World Cup.

Given the growing heat and England taking on Ghana at 9pm (UK time) for their second match tomorrow, followed by Scotland in their final group stage game against Brazil on Wednesday at 11pm, now is the time to equip yourself with a decent sun hat. I've been scouring the internet for the best England and Scotland bucket hats and caps currently in stock. Take a look at what I've found below; they're ideal for keeping cool outdoors or looking cool indoors.

If you're on the lookout for more World Cup merch, you might also be interested in our round-up of World Cup jerseys and the best retro England and Scotland shirts.

England World Cup hats

Scotland World Cup hats

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Football journalists, you’d think, would be quite handy on the pitch given their proximity to, and regular face-time with, the best in the world.

Unfortunately, interviewing and rubbing shoulders with the world’s stars means very little in terms of actual footballing ability. Take it from me. I am one of them.

Becoming a professional footballer was my life’s ambition until it became apparent that dream was behind a closed door, padlocked shut.

Bukayo Saka helped develop New Balance's brand new Stone Island boots

The closest thing to it, I thought, would be to become a football journalist. I’m fortunate to have played at Spotify Camp Nou, Leeds United’s iconic Elland Road and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium. I haven’t come close to scoring once, but that’s by-the-by.

I’m not saying if I’d worn the New Balance Furon Elite FG V9 x Stone Island boots that I’d have come much closer. But, the fantasist in me started believing that might be the case when I visited the TRACK, a state-of-the-art multi-sport venue owned and operated by New Balance, in their home city of Boston.

New Balance provided for me the boots that Bukayo Saka wore in England’s World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia. As test drives go, it was an experience.

The Furon Elite V9 x Stone Island collab is, first and foremost, an aesthetically pleasing boot. And because New Balance are involved, nothing has been left to chance when it comes to performance, either.

Stone Island isn't a fashion brand that does bright, brash colourways, so it’s understandable that the Furon collab keeps it simple but unique. I would be lying through my teeth if I were to describe myself as a flair player, so the monochromatic colour scheme was appreciated.

The boot is marketed as being designed for ‘the most dangerous players’, of which Saka is undoubtedly one. No pressure, then.

We’ve all done it, you slip on a pair of boots for the first time, have a kick-around and end up with irritation or blisters in the foot and ankle region. I’ll be honest, when I discovered how snug the Furon Elite V9s were, this was at the front of my mind. Once bitten, etcetera.

As it turned out, I had nothing to worry about. There was no wear and tear on my heels once I slipped them off - not that I wanted to - following a skills and drills session on one of the indoor pitches at the TRACK.

The boots hugged my feet, allowing a close control feel whilst providing the necessary protection when striking footballs over and over. Because, of course, skills and drills descended into shooting practice, penalties and crossbar challenge.

What else I was struck by was how lightweight the boots are, perfect for speedsters down the flanks, of which I am not one.

Was this incredibly privileged test drive wasted on a player like me who gets a nosebleed every time he crosses the halfway line? Perhaps. But I don’t care. The boots were snug, sleek and comfortable - everything I’m not on the pitch.

For a man whose ankle ligaments have seen their fair share of strains and sprains, the ‘new boot-artificial turf’ combo was cause for concern, but after a while that fear evaporated. The Furon Elite V9 provided excellent traction for quick changes of direction during the drills session.

Whilst I cannot boast explosive movement myself, the fact Arsenal and England star Saka has been an active participant in the production of this boot, suggests the pair I wore were very much catered towards a player who is cutting inside at the drop of a hat, several times per game.

One thing I can guarantee is that the wearer does not feel inhibited by the weightiness of the boot - it is the most svelte I’ve felt on a football pitch in years.

As averse as I am to corporate-speak, I think it’s worthwhile circling back to the design, because there’s a fantastic feature that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Not only do they look the part, there’s science baked into the artwork, because it is heat reactive and changes with temperature.

I was not the only wearer of the Stone Island Furon V9 on my debut at the TRACK, and therefore each pair looked ever so slightly unique at the end of the session. Whilst that might not matter to everyone, if you’re a football boot nerd, I imagine that is something to get very excited about.

FourFourTwo’s verdict is this boot, or cleat if you’re one of our North American cousins, could be one of the best and most unique on the market. If you want to draw admiring glances from teammates and opponents as you glide past, the New Balance Furon Elite V9 Stone Island edition just might be for you.

Puma have been making iconic football boots for over 80 years and believe their newest one is the ‘future of football’

The German sports giant are famed for the Super Atom, the first boot with screw-in studs, the Puma King - worn by Pele - and now comes the Ultra Nitro 7.

And in developing the new boot, Puma have put the athlete - both professional and amateur - at the centre of their process.

When developing the new boot they ask the athletes right from the beginning what they are looking for and then aim to provide what their athletes want.

“We spend a tremendous amount of time speaking to athletes,” Romain Girard, Puma’s Vice President of Innovation told FourFourTwo. “But not only with the top athletes, but also with a lot of local communities in Germany, France and the USA.

“We want to understand what are they looking for, what do they need, what are they missing, what do they like, what do they dislike, and not just on Puma products but in general.

“When we want to launch a new boot for something like the World Cup, the time frame from talking to top players and the young players through the development process is around two to two and a half years ago.”

The brand new Ultra Nitro 7 boots feature Puma’s Nitro foam in the sockliner and footbed, which was first introduced for its track & field shoes around five years ago, and it is designed with speed in mind.

At 180g, the boot pairs that responsiveness with an Ultraweave upper for lightweight precision and a Speedsystem 2.0 outsole for explosive propulsion, making it the most complete Ultra boot Puma has ever made.

And Puma take their innovation very seriously, Girard added: “We are becoming like chemists.

“When it comes to Nitro the process of super critical foaming, but it's also, it's a lot of chemistry understanding which raw material you use, the temperature you use, the types of additives, the timing, so there is a lot of that and so we wanted to make sure.

“With the Nitro we look at everything from the world of football - but not just at the top level - so sometimes the boots are left on the radiator for a day and a half or they are getting in the car in the sun or they're going to cold baths, so we wanted to make sure that that Nitro is really fitting the way people are using the football boots whether it be children or people who just play football for fun, but also top athletes.”

Puma’s footballers include Christian Pulisic and Cody Gakpo but their opinions and views are just as important as the parents and children who are buying the boots.

Girard said: “The kids and the parents are the ones who are buying the boots and they are the ones who give you the reality check.

“Top athletes, by the nature of what they do, can get as many pairs of boots or shoes as they want with whatever customisation they want. But those athletes who are not at the top of the game and play more for fun may buy a new pair of boots once a year or once every two years. So the process is about speaking to the top athletes but not exclusively, everyone is an athlete, my mum is an athlete.”

When Puma threw open their doors to the very impressive Nitro Lab in Los Angeles, the other innovation on display was the Cryo Vest, designed to keep athletes competing in hot weather cool, so expected to be key at this World Cup.

In previous World Cups played in hotter climates we saw the use of Airtex shirts in the 1970s and while at USA 94 Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton famously combated the heat by having staff throw sealed bags of water onto the field for his players to sip.

But Cryo Vest is far more sophisticated and advanced than both of those solutions.

Dominique Gathier, Puma’s Vice President of Teamsport said: “There are different vests for different stages of helping a player prepare. So there is one for warming up, and then the other one that is more for wearing on the bench aimed to keep the players at the optimal temperature so they can perform at their best.”

The Puma Ultra Nitro 7 will be available for pre-sale starting from July 13 and on general sale from July 23 at Puma.com and select retail partners worldwide.

You can't beat the nostalgia of a classic England retro shirt, and like a fine wine, they get better with age. For me, some of the best football shirts spark memories of growing up watching the World Cups, the classic editions like Spain '82, Italia '90, and those unforgettable, and often heartbreaking, moments.

Shop England Retro shirts from as little as £35.

Shop Scotland Retro shirts from just £39.

England take on Ghana tonight at 9pm (UK time). A win for either side will guarantee progress to the knockout stages, but England are the overwhelming favourites to win.

Scotland face a stern test against Brazil on Wednesday at 11pm. If they can get something from the game, it could be enough to see the Scots get past the World Cup group stage for the first time in their history.

For those of us not lucky enough to be at the World Cup, watching in the pub or at home definitely requires some team colours. I've been hunting around and found some of the best England retro shirts and Scotland retro shirts, check them out below.

England World Cup Retro Shirts

There's no doubt that the best modern football kits are sleeker and highly tailored, featuring engineered fabrics that are ultra-lightweight and breathable. However, they come with a whopping price tag – the England World Cup 2026 Home jersey will cost you an eye-watering £90. Below are some of England's best-ever kits, including the France '98 kit for just £40 – Michael Owen magic!

Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time since France '98, and the Tartan Army have a fine selection of kits to relive those legendary Scottish World Cup moments – Archie Gemmell in '78 or Davie Narey's iconic strike against Brazil at Spain '82, both available for just £45.

Scotland World Cup Retro Shirts

England FIFA World Cup 2026 shirts

Scotland FIFA World Cup 2026 shirts

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Haiti’s long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup stage has the island nation making global headlines days before their opening match against Scotland in Boston.

World football’s governing body FIFA has instructed the Caribbean side to redesign its tournament kits, ruling that a subtle historical tribute on the fabric was 'too political' to be permitted on the pitch.

The dispute centres on the jerseys manufactured by Colombian sportswear brand Saeta.

Haiti dealt unwelcome distraction before Scotland opener

Embedded on the right hip of the shirts were silhouette illustrations celebrating the 1803 Battle of Vertieres - the revolutionary victory over French forces that established Haiti as the world’s first free Black republic.

Despite Saeta's protests that the design was a tribute to the 'pride, resilience, and spirit of the Haitian people,' FIFA have invoked their equipment regulations, which prohibit visible 'political, religious, or personal messages'.

“Working in close collaboration with the Haitian Football Federation, our objective throughout the process was to create a jersey that celebrated the pride, resilience and spirit of the Haitian people,” Saeta's official statement read.

“Several concepts were developed and refined over a number of months and submitted through Fifa’s standard approval process.

"The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future and was not intended as a political statement."

Haiti's players have already had to pose in modified, blank kits in their official pre-tournament portrait sessions.

The emergency redesign is merely the latest incident in what is becoming the most heavily politicised World Cup build-up in recent memory.

Geopolitical tensions have loomed over the tournament, particularly regarding the situation in Iran, which has had a knock-on effect for the Asian country and their participation at the Finals.

In addition, US Customs and Border Protection officials have denied entry to Somali referee Omar Artan at Miami International Airport when the official attempted to enter the country earlier this month.

Despite holding official FIFA credentials, the 2025 African Referee of the Year was deported after reportedly being interrogated about Somali militant groups. The incident has shone a harsh spotlight on FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s close relationship with US President Donald Trump, whose administration’s rigid immigration policies have been blamed by Somali officials for Artan's exclusion.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here, and the first of an incredible 104 matches kicks off on June 11 with co-hosts Mexico vs South Africa in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The expanded World Cup runs for almost 6 weeks, with 48 teams looking to prise the iconic World Cup trophy from the hands of an in-form Lionel Messi and holders Argentina.

If you're travelling overseas for summer holidays during the World Cup, the only way to avoid your usual World Cup streaming services like the BBC iPlayer or ITVX being blocked by geo-restrictions is to use a reliable VPN service.

Right now, and perfectly timed for all your World Cup viewing, Norton VPN has reduced its 3 available plans. The Norton VPN Standard plan, which normally costs £59.99, is now just £29.99 when you sign up for a 1-year plan.

Grab a one-year Norton VPN package for as little as £2.50 per month

Cybersecurity company Norton is challenging some of the best VPN providers on the market, and its various VPN packages offer great speeds and a straightforward app. Our VPN experts at TechRadar scored it with an impressive 4 out of 5-star review, with speed and ease of use being some of the review highlights.

For anyone unsure, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a piece of Internet security software that can alter a device’s digital location, unblocking the geo-restrictions you get on streaming platforms, as well as keeping you safe online, especially useful when accessing unknown Wi-Fi connections overseas.

A reliable VPN will allow you to watch your usual World Cup coverage like the BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world, and Norton is one of the top-rated, with these deals being some of its best VPN deals.

One-year subscriptions currently start from just £2.50 per month, but the Norton VPN Plus plan has the best price compared to the usual cost. You’ll pay a total of just £34.99 for 12 months of coverage and protection through to June 2027. The usual price would be £79.99.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here, kicking off this week, Thursday, June 11. Mexico vs South Africa is the first of 104 matches in the expanded 48-team tournament.

If you’re hosting a summer World Cup event at home, or simply enjoying the games with friends and family, a drinks cooler box adds to the enjoyment, and they come in all shapes and sizes; they have one simple job: keeping your beers and soft drinks perfectly chilled.

Shop Yeti cooler boxes at Amazon.

For home nations fans, England vs Croatia gets the Three Lions campaign started on June 17, and the Tartan Army has less time to wait, as Scotland vs Haiti is on June 14. So there's still time to grab one of the best coolers in time for these crucial matches. Yeti is renowned for industry-leading thermal performance; the highly portable Yeti Roadie holds up to 22 cans and is currently available on Amazon for £175.

With the stakes so high, the odd beer or two will likely be required to calm the nerves. A mini fridge is another great option that's ideal for keeping a few cold ones within arm's reach in your living room, and avoids taking up real estate in your usual fridge.

Shop the best mini fridges at Amazon.

Below, I've highlighted a selection of cool boxes and mini fridges on Amazon, with various prices and capacities, which are perfect to complement all your World Cup viewing.

At FourFourTwo, we advise that if you choose to consume alcohol, you do so responsibly by pacing your intake, avoiding binge drinking, and staying within the recommended health guidelines.

Best World Cup Cooler Box Deals

Best World Cup Mini Fridge deals

The selected cooler boxes and fridges are from Amazon UK, but below you'll find the best prices on a selection of the best cooler boxes with pricing relevant to your location.

Sokito Scudetta took the football boot world by storm just over two years ago when William Troost-Ekong stepped out for Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations. Now Sokito have released the next evolution of the Scudetta in the BioTouch Emerald colourway, but how does it hold up and how do they compare to the previous model?

Firstly, let’s discuss the biggest change, the upper. The BioTouch features a completely new upper material that goes around the entire boot. It’s softer, more pliable and slightly more padded to provide a very natural and barefoot touch on the ball. Think of the synthetics of the 2010s era, but actually soft and not plasticky.

Compare that to the upper on the previous model, where it was just the biovamp material in the forefoot and the non-stretch material in the quarter. I would say that the BioTouch offers a more luxurious feel because of this change.

The comfort and fit of the boot has changed, and when I say changed, I mean upgraded! The boot now has a stitch-turn heel, and the entire inner lining of the boot uses a suede-like material which offers a premium and plush feel straight out of the box.

It feels like your feet melt into the boot. The tongue construction and laces are also different.

Sokito have made it such that they provide easier adjustability and make the fit more versatile to adapt to more foot types. Wearers of the original Scudetta would also be glad to know that the toe box has a bit more space as well, however I would still personally advise that most players get a half UK size up from what they would wear in a Nike or Adidas.

Sokito Scudetta Biotouch FG

The only thing that the boot retains from the original Scudetta is the soleplate. As the saying goes, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

It still offers that responsive push off the ground and aggressive traction to feel sharper during cutting movements. These boots also still maintain Sokito’s message of sustainability, as they are still made mostly from recycled and biobased materials.

Overall, the Sokito Scudetta BioTouch has kept what made the original a success and built on top of it to make improvements based on community feedback and the natural evolution of football boot design. A great boot that a player of any level of the game would appreciate and enjoy wearing. If you’re thinking about picking up a pair, don’t think twice!

How we test football boots

Here at FourFourTwo, our boot testing procedure is all about getting boots on our feet and personally trying them out in kickabouts, training sessions and matches. Our writers test each pair over a number of weeks, in various playing conditions, in order to get a proper idea of what they're like on a football pitch.

This is the best way to find out if boots are better suited for firmer or softer ground, what level of traction they offer and how else they're geared towards improving a player's game. We're passionate about football boots and regularly attend launch events and Q&As to get as much information as possible from manufacturers and designers before we begin.

All of our reviews are honest (despite working with brands, nobody can "buy" a good review from us) and we always have real footballers in mind when giving recommendations.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is almost here, kicking off on June 11. If you've been unable to secure tickets and a trip to Canada, Mexico, or the USA is not on the cards, then the next best thing is to treat the family to one of the best TVs to watch all 104 matches.

Save up to 40% on the best World Cup TV deals at Amazon.

For 2026, FIFA has expanded the tournament to 48 teams, and promises the biggest and quite possibly the best World Cup there has ever been. However, Italia '90 and the unforgettable Nessun dorma will still take some beating for me.

Amazon is the place to be if you're looking for a World Cup TV deal. Even with Amazon Prime Day Sales dropping in June, these deals, according to our tech-savvy TV experts at TechRadar, are some of the best around, covering all sizes and budgets.

So if you want to secure your new TV in time for the opening match – Mexico vs South Africa on June 11, or the home nations' openers England vs Croatia on June 17 or Scotland vs Haiti on June 14, then grabbing one of these reduced TVs will ensure you'll be all set.

Below, I've highlighted the best TV deals on Amazon, and also, if you're pulling out all the stops, projector deals, Fire Sticks and soundbar deals too

Best World Cup TV deals

Best World Cup Projector deals

If you're thinking of hosting a World Cup BBQ, then, weather permitting, instead of dragging your TV outside, you may want to look at one of the best projectors. A projector is a super easy way of impressing your friends and family with a huge cinematic World Cup experience that TVs cannot match.

Projectors these days are easily connected to your Smart TV via their built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even an HDMI cable (if it's long enough). You can also connect with an Amazon Fire Stick for seamless streaming, and enjoy the World Cup like never before, outdoors or even in your garden outhouse.

Best World Cup Fire Stick and Soundbar deals

An Amazon Fire Stick is a cost-effective way of turning any television with an HDMI port into a smart TV, offering massive streaming libraries and voice control in a tiny device. It's also an easy way to connect a projector for those outdoor BBQs. Amazon has plenty of options, and the certified refurbished offers are particularly appealing, with up to 24% off.

If you've invested in one of the latest TVs, you may want to add a soundbar to complete the setup. A soundbar vastly improves dialogue clarity, adds deep bass, and creates a room-filling audio experience that built-in TV speakers just can't replicate. Sonos is renowned for producing some of the best soundbars, and its Beam (Gen 2), with over 1,000 Amazon reviews (79% 5-star), is discounted by 20% to just £359.

These World Cup TV deals are from Amazon UK, but below you'll find the best prices on a selection of smart TVs with pricing relevant to your location.

The Leeds United away kit 2026/27 has dropped – and it's a cracker if you love a retro badge.

Since Leeds' return to the Premier League, Adidas have really upped their game when it comes to designing shirts for the Elland Road faithful. This latest number is exactly what you'd expect: yellow, white and blue in all the right places.

Let's take a look.

The Leeds United home kit for 2026/27 feels like an instant classic

There was always a chance Leeds would return to the Championship for 2026/27 but thanks to the goals of Dominic Calvert-Lewin et al, and the mid-season tactical shift employed by manager Daniel Farke, the Whites are staying up.

That means this away shirt will be worn at various Premier League grounds, which is just as well, because it should be seen by as many fans as possible.

Adidas's iconic Trefoil logo features prominently and the yellow base colour is exactly what fans have been after in an away shirt season-upon-season.

No modern Leeds shirt is complete without a blue and white trim, which can be found on the sleeves and around the collar.

USMNT star Brenden Aaronson models this one following a season in which he won back the acclaim of Leeds supporters.

Leeds' primary sponsor Red Bull is on the front of the shirt and the logo matches the kit's blue secondary colour.

As for the badge, how about that? Back to the '80s indeed. Suave, classy, *clicks 'add to basket'*.

Leeds' official press release reads: "Our new away kit also sees the return of the much-loved white rose crest, which last appeared on a Leeds United shirt during the 98/99 campaign.

"Combining two iconic symbols with one of the club’s most recognisable colourways, this new launch celebrates both Leeds United’s heritage and the enduring connection between the club, the city and Yorkshire."

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

The Real Madrid home kit for the 2026/27 season is out - and it’s a beauty.

There’s a lot more colour present in the latest Real Madrid kit: from its sweeping red-pink stripes along the arms and down the shoulders, to its emerald green cuffs and collars - this is a shirt for the ages.

While details on the centre of the shirt have remained largely identical to past iterations of the Real Madrid kit, Adidas’ latest outing strays from its typical gold, black and blue colouring.

The Real Madrid home kit is something different, but beautiful

Blue was a featured colour on the 2021/22 Real Madrid home kit — the shirt in which Karim Benzema won the Ballon D’or and led Los Blancos to their 14th Champions League trophy.

Adidas’ latest kit design brings something similarly fresh to a tired Real Madrid colour-way that, while iconic and prestigious, was quickly becoming old in an increasingly stale series of successive releases.

Adidas’ latest kit design brings something fresh to a Real Madrid colourway that, while iconic and prestigious, was quickly becoming old in an increasingly stale series of successive releases.

Los Blancos are aiming to make a return to major trophy-winning ways in the 2026/27 campaign, after two consecutive trophyless seasons.

Their latest shirt feels like a design that will be beloved in the years to come, provided Real Madrid don’t falter for a third successive season in their La Liga and Champions League pursuits.

The colour shift surely reflects the rejuvenated feeling that Real Madrid are hoping to impart upon their supporters next season, with Los Blancos royalty returning in Jose Mourinho.

While the noticeable absence of gold and black prevents this Adidas kit from appearing retro in design — harkening back to the days of Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese manager in partnership — there’s a certain freshness about the latest Real Madrid home shirt.

The kit symbolises a club in transition, not entering a ‘new era’, as evidenced by Mourinho’s comeback, but a return to past glory, translated through a refreshing colourway that Los Blancos fans can surely see stamping its mark on the club’s history.

There’s also something distinctly fashionable about this latest Adidas drop, perhaps aiming to align itself with the aesthetic sensibilities of current players Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, both featured in the product photoshoot and known for their clear styles.

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

For FIFA World Cup 2026 fans, there is an absolute ton of Official World Cup 2026 merchandise to choose from, including our very own FFT World Cup wallchart. For me, some of the best World Cup merch comes from Lego, who have dropped a fine selection of highly collectable Lego Editions sets.

Shop the Lego World Cup 2026 Sets at Amazon.

The highlight of the Lego Editions World Cup sets is the 2,842-piece FIFA World Cup Trophy. It comes packed with authentic details and is a stunning build that, with Father's Day landing on June 21, would make a perfect gift for any soccer-mad dad. It would also be great for mothers, sons and daughters, too, of course.

World Cup 2026 is now just a week away, and the first match sees joint host nation Mexico kicking things off against South Africa on June 11. Joint hosts Canada start their campaign vs Bosnia and Herzegovina the following day, and then the USA take on Paraguay in the first action-packed weekend.

Elsewhere, player-specific Lego Editions sets feature the stars of the best players of the World Cup, including, of course, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who will both be playing in a record-breaking sixth World Cup. The Football Highlights sets are unique nods to iconic moments in each player's life and career, and are sure to be highly collectable.

Below, I've highlighted my favourite Lego World Cup sets, with pricing for USA and UK Lego and World Cup fans.

USA Lego Editions World Cup sets

UK Lego Editions World Cup sets

For Lego fans based in the UK, there are some minor discounts on the World Cup Lego Editions sets on Amazon. The Vini Jr. – Football Highlights set has 20% off, taking it down to just £19.99, and the Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy set has £5 off, but is currently the best price available.

The official Lego store also has all the Lego Editions sets available, should you be a Lego Insider Member and wish to shop there.

Chelsea's home kit for the 2026/27 campaign has dropped - and it's different from previous years, to say the least.

First of all, the Blues have elected to go with a design which features a retro crest.

The yellow lion is the club crest for this coming season, which gives it a lovely old-world feel.

The Chelsea home kit for 2026/27 is something a little different

In previous seasons, Chelsea have gone for more of a training shirt aesthetic, but this time it looks like a proper matchday shirt.

Unfortunately, the Blues won't be able to show off their new threads on the continent after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season.

However, a strong first season under new boss Xabi Alonso could render this kit a much-loved one in years to come.

Now, for the potentially controversial aspect. Chelsea's official club crest is interwoven into the fabric on the front of the shirt.

Some of you will love it, others not so much. We're of the opinion that it's a nice touch - something different from the usual big club kit releases where you can hardly tell what's changed from one year to the next.

Chelsea's official press release reads: "The 2026/27 campaign is the 75th season since Ted Drake took over as Chelsea manager and reshaped the club’s identity. He replaced the Pensioners nickname with the Blues and the now-iconic lion symbol was introduced."

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

World Cup 2026 is just two weeks away, with the first match kicking off on June 11 at 8 pm (BST) / 8 am (EDT). Mexico will host South Africa in the Mexico City Stadium (historically known as Estadio Azteca), which is a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opening match in South Africa.

It's also the third time a stadium has hosted an opening game, with the Estadio Azteca having had that honour at the 1970 World Cup and the 1986 World Cup.

The expanded World Cup features an incredible total of 104 matches, and if you're travelling overseas for summer holidays or work, the only way to avoid your usual World Cup streaming services being blocked due to geo-restrictions is to use a reliable VPN service, and our exclusive VPN deals with Surfshark can help you do that, at a fraction of the cost.

Right now, you can save up to 87% on what our colleagues at TechRadar already rate as 'the best low-cost VPN' in the world. Our exclusive VPN deals also get you three months FREE, and an incredible up to £30 / $30 Amazon Gift Card, just in time for the Amazon Prime Day sales, which also land in June – World Cup BBQ anyone?!.

For anyone unsure, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a piece of Internet security software that can alter a device’s digital location, unblocking the geo-restrictions you get on streaming platforms, as well as keeping you safe online, especially useful when accessing unknown Wi-Fi connections overseas.

A reliable VPN will allow you to watch your usual World Cup coverage like the BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world, and Surfshark is one of the top-rated, with our deals being some of the best VPN deals we’ve seen.

Get up to 87% off with our exclusive Surfshark deals

Two-year subscriptions currently start from just £1.49 / $1.99 per month, and they’re also chucking in three months for FREE on top, plus the FREE Amazon Gift Card worth up to £30 / $30.

So when you take into account the 27 months of coverage, you’ll pay a total of just £40.23 / $53.73 for coverage and protection through August 2028. The usual price would be £304.83 or $417.15, so that’s a total saving of 87%.

The prices above are for the ‘Starter’ plan, and, having spoken with our colleagues at TechRadar, that's all you really need for your streaming and security basics. There are 3 plans available – Starter, One, and One Plus - and the savings and value of the Amazon Voucher depend on which you choose.

If you're not travelling to North America for the World Cup, you may have scheduled your summer holiday around viewing the World Cup. England face their old adversaries Croatia, along with Ghana and Panama, in Group L. England start with a tricky opener vs Croatia in the Dallas Stadium on 17 June, and it could well decide the overall group winner.

Scotland is in Group C and kick off their campaign on 14 June at the Foxborough Stadium, Boston, against Haiti. It will be a crucial game for Steve Clarke, and a win would set them up for the ties against Morocco and then the mighty Brazil in Miami to round out the group.

Elsewhere, highlights of the opening World Cup week include Brazil vs Morocco in MetLife Stadium, New York, Netherlands vs Japan, and joint host nations USA vs Paraguay, and Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Lionel Messi and defending champions, Argentina, start their campaign vs Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, on 17 June. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal kick off vs DR Congo at NRG Stadium, Houston, on the same day in what could be a record-breaking sixth World Cup for both.

It makes Surfshark VPN especially handy as it will enable you to stream all the games wherever you are this summer, just as you would back home.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The new Liverpool home kit for the 2026/27 season has dropped… and it might just prove divisive.

Retro is never out of fashion, and Adidas have reached back into their Liverpool archive to get inspiration for their latest effort.

The question is… have they actually improved on the original design by updating it, or simply made fans yearn for the original?

Liverpool go back to famous Sir Kenny Dalglish title triumph with latest kit

The kit is a modern take on the kit that Liverpool wore from 1989 to 1991, including the Reds' 18th title win in 1989/90.

That made it the last home kit of Liverpool's golden era that had extended back nearly 20 years into the early 1970s - and it would be another three decades before Liverpool finally got their hands on the top-flight trophy once again.

The original kit featured jagged, faded triangles that only really turned white at the very tips, but the pattern on the 2026/27 effort demands to be seen much more loudly.

Those triangles are back again, not-so-subtly suggesting the adidas logo at points, and are joined by some rather jazzy, very clear white lines. You can make your own Robbie Fowler goal celebration joke here.

We suspect that may be divisive: some fans might like that adidas have found a way to bring a bit more visual interest to a kit that doesn't typically offer much room for interpretation. Others might feel like it looks like a child's duvet cover from the 1990s.

Adidas have tried to balance out having more white than usual on the kit by using a slightly darker shade of red than usual, which makes it feel a bit more like some of Reebok's early 2000s efforts than anything else. Lighting is a factor, however: in many lights, it is unmistakably Liverpool.

There's a green goalkeeper kit version of much the same design, too, in keeping with Bruce Grobelaar wearing a similar effort concurrent with the previous 80s-90s outfield red.

Fans who care about such things may be a bit disappointed that the shirt features the standard three-stripe adidas logo, rather than the trefoil design. That's not just because it has for some reason become a prestige symbol among discerning kitheads, but also because the original did feature the trefoil.

That makes it feel like adidas have gone further and louder than the original design, but left off the touch of class that would have made it feel like an instant retro classic.

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

Neymar's return to Santos last year was a full-circle moment for Brazil's all-time top goalscorer...but now he might get a repeat experience he does not enjoy.

The former Barcelona and PSG star had a two-year injury-hit spell in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal before heading back to Brazil to rejoin his first senior club Santos in January 2025.

Neymar has found goalscoring form for Santos and will have hoped that would be enough to get him in Carlo Ancelotti's thoughts for this summer's World Cup. However, that's only half the story - as the Brazil boss has made clear.

Carlo Ancelotti dubious about Neymar's World Cup hopes

Neymar has struggled to find consistent fitness since tearing his ACL towards the end of 2023, with repeated injuries limiting his ability to turn out regularly at club level.

That could mean that Neymar is absent from Brazil's World Cup squad for the first time since 2010, when Dunga decided he was too young and inexperienced to go to South Africa despite a popular movement calling for his inclusion.

Neymar has not played for Brazil since 2023, and Ancelotti seemed sceptical as to whether he should be included in his squad for this summer's tournament in North America.

The Italian told the Athletic that Neymar 'was and is' in his thoughts, but that a decision will only be made when it comes time to name his final squad.

Ancelotti said: “He is a great talent. What we have to look for with him is not if he’s able to trap the ball or pass the ball. [The question] is if his condition is good."

Brazil will kick off their World Cup against Morocco at Metlife Stadium on Saturday, June 13, with Scotland and Haiti making up the rest of their group.

Neymar set a new outright goals record for Brazil with his last two strikes, which came in a brace against Bolivia in September 2023.

That pushed the forward onto 79 goals, two clear of Pele, whose record had stood since 1971 and which Neymar had equalled by scoring in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals against Croatia.

Brazil went on to lose that game on penalties, however, extending a disappointing World Cup record for the five-time world champions.

They have gone out in the quarter-finals every time since last winning it in 2002, with the exception of 2014, when they reached the semi-finals...only to suffer their most humiliating ever defeat as Germany smashed them 7-1.

The Arsenal home kit 2026/27 has dropped – and it's lovely.

You know the cliches: Arsenal are Merch FC, Adidas release new tops and retro designs several times a season to keep the Emirates Stadium well-dressed, and when it comes to kit release day, this is one that we always mark on the calendar.

But does it feel a little underwhelming this time?

The Arsenal home kit for 2026/27 feels very, very familiar

The only thing that Gunners want on next season's shirt is a gold Premier League patch: let's just get that out of the way.

And this one will look great with that, given that Adidas have brought redcurrant into the shirt, some 21 years after the Gunners changed their entire colour palette to commemorate leaving Highbury.

Adidas's iconic Three Stripes have got bigger and there's a darker collar on this one, but aside from that… not much change.

Yes, that can be a good thing – Adi stumbled upon a winning formula with this season's shirt – but with kits as expensive as they are, are Arsenal fans going to shell out for this one?

“Wearing this shirt means representing something much bigger than ourselves,” Martin Odegaard says. “We carry the pride and belonging felt by our supporters around the world. Our connection with them inspires us and I feel so proud to wear this kit and to honour what this badge and what Arsenal stands for.”

Who are we kidding: of course it's going to fly off the shelves.

“At its core, the shirt stays true to Arsenal’s unmistakable identity, combining a rich red body with crisp white sleeves to deliver an instantly recognisable silhouette,“ Adidas tells us.

“The design features subtle visual references drawn from the Emirates, including a bespoke crewneck collar inspired by the sweeping rooflines and subtle red patterning across the body to offer depth and texture.”

Perhaps this is quite so samey because Adidas have a fourth kit up their sleeve? Watch this space.

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

The Manchester United home kit 2026/27 has dropped ahead of the end of the season.

Such is the way these days: Manchester United are set to wear their brand-new Adidas top before the season has ended, just to confuse you when you're watching Premier League Years in a decade or so.

Or… will you be confused…?

The Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 is lovely – but then we kind of expected that

Let's just get the important things out of the way first: this is an absolutely stunning football shirt, and Adidas have knocked it out of the park.

It's everything you want from a Red Devils get-up: the tone of red is just right warmth, while the black and white piping is absolutely timeless. You could release this every year and we would absolutely lap it up.

And for some online, therein lies the problem: it feels like we've seen this shirt every season since the pandemic.

No, we're not asking for the German manufacturer to change the colour or do anything revolutionary, but arguably, the most notable things about this shirt are the introduction of a collar, and the fact that Adidas's iconic Three Stripes have got bigger.

“Inspired by the 1970s, a clean red base allows the iconic polo collar and striped cuffs to take centre stage, bringing a refined and unmistakably United look back to the pitch,” Adi tells us.

“The collar execution, combined with subtle striping details, references the kits worn during the club’s Domestic Cup triumph in 1977 - marking the 50th anniversary of that historic moment. This connection to the past is balanced with a contemporary construction, creating a jersey that feels both nostalgic and progressive.

“White accents across the Adidas three stripes and branding provide a sharp contrast against the red base, while black detailing is integrated subtly throughout the design, reinforcing the club’s classic colour palette.”

Still, even though there's nothing particularly worth getting excited about with this one, it's going to be a big seller.

United are back in the Champions League and it'll be their first outing in the league phase: call us traditionalists at FourFourTwo, but this shirt simply feels right for nights under the lights and we're glad that Adidas haven't gone too wild with the design.

What do you think? Leave your comments below…

The dust has settled on another drama-filled Premier League weekend. At the top, there is no change with Arsenal five points clear of title rivals Manchester City. The pressure is unrelenting as we head into the business end of the season, and City host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Buy a VIP package for Man City vs Palace for just £80 with Seat Unique.

This match, which could go a long way towards deciding the Premier League title, is scheduled for 8.00 pm kick-off. City could close the gap on the Premier League leaders to just two points, and Mikel Arteta's men will hope their fellow London team can do them a favour and come away with something from the Etihad.

VIP tickets are still available for Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

VIP tickets are available for this match. And they're available for not a lot more than the price of a regular ticket. You can grab yourself a package that includes some of the finest seats at the Etihad, complimentary tea or coffee, a match day programme, and premium food options.

City will also have eyes on London, as they head to Wembley for the FA Cup Final versus Chelsea this weekend. Pep Guardiola's men are still looking at an incredible domestic treble, and victory against Palace would see them head to Wembley with a morale-boosting three points.

Manchester City faced a first-half onslaught from a fired-up Brentford side at the weekend, but eventually secured a hard-fought 3-0 win with second-half strikes from Doku, Haaland and Marmoush sealing a vital Premier League win.

That means City go into the Palace match in fine form, and on an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

The stats point very much to City winning on Wednesday night, and Palace have only picked up two points against their opponents since 2022. However, they did claim a shock FA Cup win against City in the 2025 final.

Saying that Oliver Glasner and Palace will have one eye on Leipzig and their historic UEFA Conference League final versus Rayo Vallecano de Madrid on 27 May. The Eagles secured their place in the final after a 5–2 aggregate victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals, and it comes in the club's first-ever major European campaign.

Last-minute FA Cup Final Manchester City vs Chelsea tickets

For fans of City or Chelsea interested in the FA Cup Final this weekend, Seat Unique has VIP Packages available starting at £605, with segregated ticketing available for both City and Chelsea supporters, and you'll find the details below.

Seat Unique's VIP tickets don't just apply to the remaining Premier League fixtures; they have a host of packages, including the Champions League Final, Europa League, and the Conference League Finals.

Seat Unique also has VIP tickets for many other British clubs. Take your pick from: Arsenal, Arsenal Women, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Birmingham City WFC, Brentford, Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Everton, Everton Women, Fleetwoood Town, Forest Green Rovers, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Plymouth Argyle, Rangers, Sheffield United, Southampton, Swansea City, Tottenham, Watford, Wigan Athletic, and Wolverhampton.

If you can't make it to a game weekend, our handy guide on how to watch the Premier League has all the details on broadcasters and live streams, and how to access all the action by using a VPN from anywhere.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The Celtic 2026/27 home kit has been launched by Adidas, with a design that pays homage to the club's most iconic moment and the Lisbon Lions. Celtic were the first British club to lift the European Cup in 1967, and to mark the 60th anniversary, Adidas has pulled out all the stops with a design that's sure to be popular with fans.

The new Celtic home kit for the 2026/27 season features a design steeped in tradition, and of course, the club’s iconic green and white hoops. The jersey features metallic gold detailing across the crest, the Adidas logo, and the Dafabet shirt sponsor logo.

The Celtic crest has been specially adapted for the anniversary edition, incorporating '60 Aniversario' written above the crest alongside a gold star, which has featured on previous season jerseys to signify the club's historic moment in Lisbon.

The Celtic FC 2026/27 home kit is a tribute to the Lisbon Lions

It's safe to say it's been a turbulent 25/26 season for Celtic, and the Parkhead faithful have been at odds with the board throughout. The fans have endured four managers, including the disastrous Wilfred Nancy appointment, the Sack the Board campaign, and the banning of the controversial Green Brigade, the Celtic Ultras fans.

However, with Martin O'Neal back for his second spell of the season, remarkably, Celtic, with three games of the Scottish Premiership season remaining, are still in a title battle with Hearts, and a win against fierce Old Firm rivals Rangers this weekend could see them take a massive step towards retaining the SPL title.

They also have a Scottish Cup final to look forward to, against ex-Celtic player and manager Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic.

The home kit drops just in time for fans to snap it up in time for the Scottish Cup final on 23 May, potentially celebrate an unexpected league and cup double, and commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions in style.

The shirt will be accompanied by solid white shorts and signature white socks, both of which will carry Adidas' three stripes. The kit drop also comes following the announcement of an extension of Celtic's partnership with Adidas as the club’s official kit supplier.

On the unveiling of the new kit, Celtic Football Club captain Callum McGregor said: “It has been a privilege to represent this famous club and the green and white hoops for so many years, and the excitement of a new kit is always something to look forward to for both players and supporters. The Celtic jersey is one of the most iconic in football and our latest edition is another fantastic tribute to the Lisbon Lions, honouring our history and the historic achievement."

Now available for pre-order with an expected release of 14 May. Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions' European Cup win. This men's Celtic FC 2025/26 Home Shirt from adidas is cut from a light and breathable fabric, and it's equipped with CLIMACOOL tech to wick away sweat.

As a Celtic supporter, I reckon this shirt could be one of the best Celtic home jerseys for many years, and even one of the best Adidas shirts of all time. It's hard to keep the green and white hoops looking fresh when it comes to a Celtic home shirt, but Adidas has achieved it with this latest offering.

A VPN is essential for streaming the biggest matches at the World Cup 2026. The huge games keep coming in North America and a VPN ensures you won't miss a kick, right up until the final on July 19. But should you get a VPN to watch the World Cup, Champions League or Premier League? And which are the best VPNs for streaming the biggest games? FourFourTwo is here to offer some guidance.

First, you might be asking: what exactly is a VPN? It stands for Virtual Private Network, a type of software you can install on your computer, phone, or even a smart TV to help keep your online activity secure. It works by hiding your real location and encrypting your internet connection (there’s more going on behind the scenes, but that’s the basic idea).

VPNs serve a wide range of purposes, from safeguarding journalists and dissidents operating under restrictive governments to simply giving you extra peace of mind when using public Wi-Fi.

We’re lucky enough to share an office with TechRadar and Tom's Guide, who know everything there is to know about VPNs. They’ve tested hundreds of them, and we’ll be leaning on their expertise as we take a look at some of the key benefits of VPNs when it comes to streaming football online.

Benefits of a VPN for streaming football

Use a VPN to watch your usual football streams from anywhere

The biggest advantage of a VPN for those looking to stream TV is that it allows you to do so from anywhere.

What if you’re on holiday during the World Cup knockout stage, or you can't stream a crucial England match because of a work trip? A VPN will allow you to access your usual coverage from another country, so you never have to miss a game.

Pretty much all streaming platforms these days are geo-restricted – in other words, they work only in the host country. For example, Sky Sports, which shows the majority of Premier League games in the UK and Ireland, works only in those countries. If you try to watch from abroad, you’ll find yourself geo-blocked.

A VPN gets around this by re-routing your connection through a remote server, which replaces your device’s IP address (a sort of unique digital passport). The best VPN providers will have server options in pretty much every country in the world – often multiple servers – so when you connect through one of them, it will appear that you are in that country.

Heading on holiday or spending time away from your home country doesn’t mean you have to be locked out of the services you subscribe to and pay for. It’s a good way to make sure you’re getting full value out of your subscriptions.

See also ► Football fixtures 2025/26: Interactive calendar for every competition

Use a VPN to improve picture quality

Another advantage of a VPN is improved streaming quality for live football.

Your internet provider may advertise high speeds, but in reality performance is often reduced by throttling, especially during peak times or when streaming in high definition.

A VPN masks your activity by routing your connection through its servers, making it harder for your ISP to throttle your speed based on what you are doing.

Use a VPN to stay safe while streaming

While streaming capabilities are a key component of VPNs, internet security is at their core.

Who doesn’t want to stay safe online? And who doesn’t worry about that in the modern age? There are other things that can re-write your IP address, but VPNs are considered key tools in cyber security, keeping your data private and protecting you from the malign forces out there.

VPNs encrypt the data that's transferred between your device and the internet, which makes it impossible for it to be spied upon and taken advantage of. When it comes to log-ins and payment details, you can keep these under lock and key. This is doubly important when stepping out into the risky world of public WiFi or mobile connections.

See also ► Premier League TV guide: Streams, channels and fixtures this week

Best VPNs for watching football

In a nutshell: TechRadar and Tom's Guide recommend NordVPN. It is one of the most affordable and ranks among the top VPN's for unblocking streaming services.

NordVPN

Our pals at both TechRadar and Tom's Guide rate NordVPN as the best VPN money can buy right now. NordVPN has consistently come out on top in deep testing from the teams on both sites for a long time now – specifically for streaming but also overall.

“We’re confident that virtually anyone can sign up for Nord and get what they need,” say TechRadar. “It’s easy to use, has robust security, seriously fast speeds for downloads and gaming, flawless unblocking (it’s our top choice for streaming), plus a host of compelling extra features.”

Surfshark

Both TechRadar and Tom’s Guide rate Surfshark as the best budget VPN out there. It might fall short of NordVPN on certain features, but manages to sneak past it on price.

“Surfshark is the perfect choice if you're on a budget but don’t want to compromise on quality,” say Tom’s Guide.

Norton VPN

Both TechRadar and Tom's Guide rate Norton VPN as one of the best VPNs for streaming right now, following a string of improvements over the past 12 months.

"It's fast, very user friendly and has the kind of array of features you’d expect from a top VPN service," say TechRadar, while Tom's Guide add: "It offers fast, secure connections and solid unblocking capabilities, making it a good VPN for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and browsing the internet securely."

ProtonVPN

Our office mates at TechRadar rank ProtonVPN as one of the very best for ad-blocking and streaming.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Approaching its centenary in what will be a 24th finals tournament, the World Cup has become a magnet for traditions and rituals around the globe.

World Cup 2026 is the 23rd tournament and will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July. Less than two months out, the launch of the new official sticker collection from Panini is a cultural milestone on the road to football's greatest show.

The collection was unveiled at Wembley Stadium and collectors who pour their efforts into adhesive jewels every four years can't wait to get started.

How many World Cup 2026 stickers are there?

The biggest ever World Cup calls for the biggest ever World Cup official sticker collection. Panini has gone all out, producing a massive 980 stickers to fill the 2026 album.

That's more than four square metres of sticker, each one jam-packed with the best players eligible for 48 World Cup squads heading to North America this summer.

When does the World Cup 2026 collection go on sale?

The World Cup 2026 sticker collection goes on sale across the United Kingdom on Thursday, April 30.

A Starter Pack will be available and comprises this year's 112-page album and four packets of stickers.

Sticker packets will be available from retailers and collectors can snag multipacks, tins and other exclusive bits and bobs online.

Each packet contains seven stickers.

Are there any special stickers in the World Cup 2026 collection?

Among the 980 stickers that make up the World Cup 2026 collection, there will be 68 classified as 'special' stickers, featuring the likes of Argentina icon Lionel Messi, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Spain phenom Lamine Yamal.

There's also a double-page spread to fill with 12 stickers in partnership with Coca-Cola.

From the middle May, stickers bearing the images of players including Yamal, Argentina's Lautaro Martinez, England skipper Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich of Germany will be hidden behind the labels of Coke bottles.

Which players launched the Panini World Cup 2026 sticker collection?

The England-flavoured launch of this year's sticker album featured a quartet of former England stars: John Barnes, David James, Gary Cahill and Adam Lallana.

They have 17 World Cup finals appearances between them.

"As someone who grew up collecting Panini stickers, swapping with friends in the playground and trying to complete the album every tournament, the album has always marked the real start of a World Cup for me!" says Cahill.

"Seeing myself in the collection during my playing days was a surreal and proud moment, and a reminder of how these stickers become part of the story of every World Cup."

Which World Cup sticker collections have been produced by Panini?

Panini has been behind official sticker collections for every World Cup since 1970, meaning the World Cup 2026 sticker collection is the 15th consecutive edition of this cultural touchstone.

Whether you're a nostalgic collector, an obsessive completist or a parent being nagged to help a child build up their collection of 980 stickers, the launch of the Panini album is a long-established part of the World Cup experience.

Let the countdown begin!

Manchester City and Chelsea booked their place in next month's FA Cup Final with nail-biting semi-final wins last weekend. Pep Guardiola's men produced a late comeback to beat Championship promotion contenders Southampton 2-1, before Enzo Fernandez's first-half header saw the Blues edge out Leeds United 24 hours later. The two clubs, who have lifted the famous trophy 15 times between them, can now look forward to the final on May 16 - and you can be there.

If you want to watch the Wembley showpiece in style, look no further than Seat Unique. They are offering official VIP FA Cup final packages, including access to Wembley's newest premium area, the Taphouse Social, and there are tickets available for both sets of fans. Numbers are limited, though, so you better act fast.

Buy a VIP package for Man City vs Chelsea with Seat Unique.

Get VIP FA Cup Final tickets for Manchester City vs Chelsea

These VIP FA Cup tickets are segregated and available for both sets of fans.

The Taphouse Social is Wembley's newest premium area, located on Level Two, and includes VIP padded seats offering fantastic views of the match. You have access to the exclusive bar and food outlets within Taphouse Social two-and-a-half hours before kick-off, and you can enjoy relaxed seating within the bar area to soak up the atmosphere, making it a truly thrilling FA Cup experience.

Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, May 16, when Manchester City will contest their fourth FA Cup Final in a row, having lost to Crystal Palace in last season's showpiece after experiencing a win and a defeat against Manchester United in the previous two campaigns.

City will hope that their dreams of a domestic treble remain alive when they travel to Wembley next month. They have already beaten Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and they are also aiming to pip the Gunners to the Premier League title.

Guardiola's side will have only two matches of the league season remaining when they take on Chelsea at Wembley, as they aim to complete their second domestic treble since the Catalan manager's arrival in 2016.

The FA Cup represents Chelsea's last chance of salvaging some silverware from a disappointing season, which has seen them sack two managers and fall off the pace in the race for Champions League qualification.

The Blues fired Liam Rosenior last week just 106 days into the Englishman's tenure at Stamford Bridge, having seen their campaign collapse amid a run of seven defeats in eight games.

There is a chance that Chelsea may not even qualify for Europe via their league position, so victory at Wembley next month is extra important as it would guarantee a place in next season's Europa League.

And the Blues know what it takes to win at the new Wembley, lifting the FA Cup five times - and the Carabao Cup twice - since the national stadium reopened in 2007.

Seat Unique's VIP tickets don't just apply to the FA Cup but also the final games of the Premier League season. They have a host of packages, including matches in all the major European Leagues and the Champions League.

Seat Unique also has VIP tickets for many other British clubs. Take your pick from: Arsenal, Arsenal Women, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Birmingham City WFC, Brentford, Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Everton, Everton Women, Fleetwood Town, Forest Green Rovers, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Plymouth Argyle, Rangers, Sheffield United, Southampton, Swansea City, Tottenham, Watford, Wigan Athletic, and Wolverhampton.

Manchester United are looking to cement their place in the Premier League’s top five when they host Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday night.

A win for Michael Carrick’s side would put them back three points clear of Liverpool in third with just four games of the season remaining.

And United will have a slightly different look as they take to the pitch against Brentford.

Manchester United partner with charity

United’s home shirt sponsor in 2025/26 has been mobile phone processor company Snapdragon.

The deal, which was agreed in 2023, is believed to be worth over £60m a year and is due to run until 2029.

But the Snapdragon logo will not be on the front of Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo’s shirts come Monday evening.

Instead, United’s front-of-shirt sponsor for the visit of Brentford will be (RED), a consumer-driven charity founded in 2006 by U2 singer Bono and activist Bobby Shriver.

(RED)’s purpose is to raise money for global health crises, so this is a fundraising initiative from United, in partnership with MatchWornShirt.

“These shirts represent the very best of football - moments on the pitch transformed into meaningful impact off it,” said MatchWornShirt co-founder Tijmen Zonderwijk.

“By bringing fans closer to the game they love, we’re turning that passion into something bigger, helping to raise critical funds and awareness for life-saving global health programmes around the world.”

Kate Charles, managing director of (RED), added: “This collection shows how purpose-driven partnerships can turn the power of sport into real-world impact.

“Each shirt tells a story from the pitch, while also helping to fund life-saving global health programs in communities where they are needed most.”

A full set of match-worn and signed shirts from the Brentford match are set to be available to fans and collectors via the MatchWornShirt website and app.

The dust has settled on another drama-filled Premier League weekend that saw Manchester City defeat title rivals Arsenal. It meant City closed the gap to just three points, and with a game in hand (playing tonight against relegated Burnley), it could see Pep's men top of the tree by the time their attention turns to the FA Cup Semi-Final this weekend at Wembley against Southampton.

If you'd like to be at either of the semi-finals, it's not too late to get tickets to see what is sure to be exciting matches. At Seat Unique, you can still grab official VIP FA Cup packages, including access to Wembley's newest premium area – the Taphouse Social, and there are still tickets available for both sets of fans.

Buy a VIP package for Man City vs Southampton from £99 with Seat Unique.

Buy a VIP package for Chelsea vs Leeds United from £540 with Seat Unique.

VIP FA Cup tickets are still available for Manchester City vs Southampton

These VIP FA Cup tickets are segregated and available for both sets of fans, although the City fans have to pay £185 for the same package.

The Taphouse Social is Wembley's newest premium area, located on Level Two, and includes VIP padded seats offering fantastic views of the match. You have access to the exclusive bar and food outlets within Taphouse Social 2.5 hours before kick-off, and you can enjoy relaxed seating within the bar area, and soak up the atmosphere, making it a truly thrilling FA Cup experience.

Kick-off is scheduled for 5.30 pm on Saturday, when Manchester City could make it four FA Cup finals in a row, and ease the pain of the last two final defeats, having lost to Crystal Palace and Manchester United in the last two seasons' finals.

Like City, high-flying Southampton are also battling on two fronts, with promotion to the riches of the Premier League very much still a possibility for Tonda Eckert's team.

Shea Charles’ late winner sent Southampton into the FA Cup semi-finals at the expense of Arsenal, as the Gunners dreams of a unique quadruple crumbled with the Championship side stunning the Premier League leaders at St Mary’s.

Sporting a commemorative yellow kit to mark the 50th anniversary of their FA Cup triumph, Saints channelled the spirit of their 1976 heroes to knock out the 14-time winners.

Southampton haven't graced an FA Cup final since that 1976 victory when a single goal from Bobby Stokes was enough for Southampton to lift the trophy against Manchester United and deliver one of the biggest shocks in the history of the FA Cup final.

It's the only major trophy the club has lifted, and with one eye on the Premier League and City being the overwhelming favourites, it could be as far as the Saints go in what has been a remarkable season for the south coast team.

Last-minute FA Cup Chelsea vs Leeds tickets

The second FA Cup Semi-Final takes place at Wembley on Sunday between Chelsea and Leeds United. The prices for this all Premier League clash start at a staggering £540, and again is the exact same package that Southampton fans can get for just £99.

For anyone wishing to break the bank for that match, the details are below, but numbers are limited, so best act fast.

Seat Unique's VIP tickets don't just apply to the FA Cup but also the final games of the Premier League season. They have a host of packages, including all the major European Leagues, the Champions League and for the FA Cup final in May (details and pricing TBC).

Seat Unique also has VIP tickets for many other British clubs. Take your pick from: Arsenal, Arsenal Women, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Birmingham City WFC, Brentford, Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Everton, Everton Women, Fleetwoood Town, Forest Green Rovers, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Plymouth Argyle, Rangers, Sheffield United, Southampton, Swansea City, Tottenham, Watford, Wigan Athletic, and Wolverhampton.

Perhaps now more than ever, our inability to agree on things is striking, with true consensus rare. Though clearly a low-stakes topic, football boots are certainly not an exception to this rule.

Take a look online at reviews or opinions on your favourite pair ever, and it won’t take long before you find someone who thinks they are an abomination, and it would take a similarly short amount of time to find a pair you hated being referred to as a gift from God.

One thing that you will be hard pressed to find anyone arguing against, however, is that they have become simply too expensive. An elite pair from one of the main brands will cost somewhere between £195 and £265, with boots made specifically for children consistently well over the £100 mark.

Kids, eh?

Though the frequency of new releases means that it is usually possible to find pairs significantly marked down, the retail prices can be a problem for parents in particular.

Explaining to a child that it makes more sense economically to buy the colourway that released a few months ago and is marked down rather than the brand new one that they’ve seen their favourite player wearing can prove difficult.

One such parent is Dr Yukti Hari Gupta, and she has taken matters in her own hands by launching LEMON, an affordable alternative made with microfiber leather and priced at £33 a pair.

After struggling between the high prices of the elite boot market and what she perceived as the lower quality of the cheaper ‘takedown’ models offered by big brands for her child, Dr Gupta (a scientist herself) spent three years researching, prototyping and market testing before eventually landing on the leather imitating microfiber upper that makes up LEMON football boots.

At just £33, LEMON is firmly at the price point of the ‘club’ tier, the most affordable available from the biggest brands that are made from lower tech materials than the ‘elite’ tier and can at times lack some of the quality and comfort. This was a compromise that Dr Gupta was unwilling to continue to make and LEMON aims to offer something close to the quality that comes at the higher price point but without the expense.

The boots are currently available in black and predominantly white colourways, with other options to launch. The LEMON Series 1 boot features an outsole with a mix of conical and chevron-shaped studs for a balance between rotational support and traction.

The outsole is fully recyclable as the brand aims to offer an alternative that is eco-friendly as well as affordable. The environmental impact of the football boot market as it is perhaps the biggest concern alongside price, and Dr Gupta has sought to address both of these with LEMON.

With the brand also sponsoring tournaments, with winners receiving pairs of boots as well as team discounts on bulk orders and offering free customisation, it is clear that this is a community-minded project committed to the benefit of junior grassroots football in particular.

LEMON is an eco-friendly, community-focused brand seeking to offer an affordable alternative at a time when most families could really do with one. Any one of these would make it a welcome addition to the ever-expanding football boot market but all of them together mean the landscape looks better now that LEMON is in it.

Visit LemonSports.co.uk to check out the range

The World Cup is almost upon us, and it is likely to be a festival of beautiful goals, kits and stadiums.

There will also be plenty of beautiful pairs of football boots: most notably, Under Armour’s new Shadow Elite 4.

Several big name players will be wearing the sleek boots, including Barcelona and Spain midfielder Fermin Lopez, Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins, Ferran Torres of Barcelona and Spain, and Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur and Spain.

Buy the new Under Armour Shadow Elite 4

The Shadow Elite 4 is the latest iteration of Under Armour’s successful series of boots, and its most innovative yet.

It is built for agility and control, made from carbon fibre to provide both comfort and performance benefits.

“The Shadow Elite 4 gives me a different kind of confidence when I step out onto the pitch,” said Barcelona star Lopez.

“As an attacker I need every advantage to beat my man; the boots help push me forward quicker, turn sharper and every touch feels completely controlled, even at full speed.

“It’s the kind of boot that allows me to play instinctively and stay one step ahead of the opposition.”

Under Armour have outlined the various features that will make this eye-catching boot one of the standout pairs at the World Cup.

The Shadow Elite 4 has an improved fit: “A newly engineered 3D heel counter grips tighter and eliminates slippage, reducing reaction time and improving stability during sudden changes of direction.”

It also provides a lightweight experience: “Weighing 213g, the Shadow Elite 4 provides minimum weight with maximum separation - perfect for players who rely on instinct and effortless precision.”

It creates a pure separation: “Woven carbon fibre plates in the forefoot and heel help load every step with an explosive response and a cushioned, grounded landing.”

Finally, the Shadow Elite 4 has an unmatched feel: “Locked-in feel. Zero drag. A knitted collar and micro-wrap textiles for an unmatched, lightweight experience.”

If this summer's World Cup is to be the last for Lionel Messi, Adidas is intent on sending him off in style.

World Cup 2026 will be played in familiar environs for the Argentina and Inter Miami icon, who holds the distinction of being the captain of the current club champions in his domestic league as well as the continental and world champions at international level.

Messi has been an ambassador for Adidas throughout his career, which peaked two years ago when he finally lifted the World Cup trophy. He'll turn 39 during this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, so his long-time partners have opted for a 'golden hour' colourway for what could be his swansong on the world stage.

Buy the new Adidas F50 Messi Hora Dorada

The Adidas F50 Messi Hora Dorada is the latest addition to the brand's SS26 Messi Packs. According to the sportswear giants, "Hora Dorada captures the warmth and glow of late-day light, reinterpreted through a modern performance lens."

"The boot features a rich, radiant upper blending tones of ice tangerine and pure orange, creating a luminous gradient that flows dynamically from heel to toe.... Metallic gold accents elevate key details, including the three stripes on the forefoot, adding a premium, archive-inspired touch."

Messi and the F50 go foot in shoe. The former Barcelona player has been wearing the classic Adidas speed boot forever and various signature colour versions have appeared on his plates over the years.

Adidas has celebrated major trophy wins and Ballon d'Or coronations by bedecking Messi in fresh one-off designs, and this latest addition is an eye-catching tribute to one of the greatest ever footballers in the twilight of an extraordinary career.

Doubts have been cast over Messi's participation at World Cup 2026 but there's been no substantial suggestion that he doesn't intend to lead Argentina's title defence. It seems highly unlikely the Albiceleste skipper won't take to the field in the orange glow of the early evening and his new boots in June.

Argentina kick off their World Cup defence with a Group J opener against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday, June 16.

Their second group stage fixture is six days later against Austria at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, before Group J concludes at the same stadium against Jordan.

Lionel Scaloni has been coy about Messi's plans for the summer, and the new F50 Messi is yet another reason to hope the Argentina captain steps out onto the turf in Kansas City in June.

What's your verdict? Is Hora Dorada a fitting way to see out Messi's wonderful international career?

After years of stagnation and financial uncertainty, the arrival of Dejphon Chansiri at Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 promised a new dawn. What followed was a whirlwind of flair, ambition, and heartbreak that still sparks debate in the pubs around S6 today.

Respected journalist Dom Howson has delivered the definitive chronicle of that era in his debut book, Carlos Had a Dream. Published by Vertical Editions and set for release this spring, it is an essential addition to any Wednesdayite’s bookshelf.

Here is why this is a must-buy for anyone who bleeds blue and white.

The essential Sheffield Wednesday account of Carlos Carvalhal's tenure

Howson covered the club daily during this period for The Star and Yorkshire Live, and has secured exclusive, candid interviews with the men at the heart of the story.

Stuart Gray speaks openly for the first time about his exit, providing a rare look at the transition from the old regime to the Chansiri era.

Carlos Carvalhal himself offers a deep dive into his tenure, discussing the cultural shifts he attempted to instil and the unique challenges of working under a chairman who, by his own admission, knew little about the English game.

Carlos Had A Dream pulls back the curtain on one of the most mysterious periods in the club's modern history: the 'Transfer Committee.'

Wednesday fans have long wondered how a structure featuring Adam Pearson, Glenn Roeder, Paul Senior, and Jonathan Hill collapsed within eight months. Howson's book explores this power vacuum and how the failure of this experiment shaped the club’s recruitment strategy for years to come.

From inviting a chief monk to bless the Hillsborough turf to the chairman handpicking squad numbers, the book charts the early, turbulent years of Chansiri’s ownership. It provides an analytical look at the recruitment that brought cult heroes like Barry Bannan and Fernando Forestieri to the club, while questioning whether the player-trading model was ever truly sustainable for long-term success.

With over 20 years of experience, Dom Howson is a writer who understands Sheffield Wednesday. His writing comes from a place of vast knowledge and boots-on-the-ground reporting.

Title: Carlos Had a Dream

Author: Dom Howson

Price: £16.99

Release Date: Late April/Early May 2026

Format: Hardback (Vertical Editions)

For media inquiries, interviews, or review copies, contact Dom Howson at dominick.howson@gmail.com.

World Cup kits are a big part of the experience for many football fans around the globe, with new releases more important for some than the group stage draw.

World Cup 2026 boasts a bumper range. 48 squads will compete at the finals tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer and each one will have two or three World Cup kits in their luggage.

When the kits are revealed for participating federations many months before each World Cup, the manufacturers showcase their technological advancements. In this instance, the design innovations profess primarily to combat the effects of playing in very hot weather.

Some of Nike's World Cup 2026 kits have an unfortunate design flaw

That's certainly the case for Nike, whose kits for the finals have been produced with performance in extreme temperatures in mind, but the American sportswear giant was hit with an unwelcome distraction during March's international fixtures.

A number of the brand's international shirts were seen to bulge at the shoulders as if the fabric bunched up at the seam, creating a look that might be classed as rather elegant in a British period drama but is a little unexpected on the broad frame of France captain Kylian Mbappe.

Nike will kit out some of the top contenders at World Cup 2026, several of whom have experienced the shoulder fault. Brazil, Croatia, England, France, the Netherlands, Uruguay and co-hosts United States and Canada are all among Nike's partner federations.

After the shoulder bulge came to light on the international stage and reportedly in retail versions too, Nike acknowledged the problem and explained what will happen next in a statement as the days tick away towards the opening game on Thursday, June 11.

"During the recent international break, we observed a minor issue with our Nike national team kits, most noticeable around the shoulder seam," a spokesperson told The Guardian.

"Performance is unaffected, but the overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be. We always hold ourselves and our products to the highest standards and this fell short.

"We’re working quickly to make this right for players and fans, because every kit should reflect the care, precision and pride that the game deserves."

Correcting the flaw on the scale of retail production is likely impossible and it's unclear how much can be done at the technical supplier level for player issue equipment in such a short period of time.

Performance kit design, development and production is a large and lengthy undertaking that operates years in advance. Patching this problem in time for the summer is a mighty challenge.

Nike's first appearance at World Cup 2026 will be in the second match of the first day. South Korea take on Czechia at Estadio Akron in Zapopan in Mexico.

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

World Cup 2026 is the biggest tournament in international football history, with 48 squads set to play 104 matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July. It's a little unwieldy for fans on the ground and around the world, so the FourFourTwo World Cup wall chart is more important than ever before.

It's our biggest wall chart so far. With 104 matches to cover, it was never going to be any other way.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

There's no better way than a World Cup 2026 wall chart to stay on top of the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

This is the version for Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10), which includes Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast. Many Pacific states also share this time zone, so if you're in Guam or Papua New Guinea, this is the version for you.

Wherever in the UTC+10 time zone you are, this wall chart prints out into eight A4 sheets to build an A1 poster in full colour.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

If black and white is more your style, this is the version you want. Don't print the colour one in black and white – use this one instead.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

World Cup 2026 is almost upon us and the excitement is palpable. With 48 squads set to plough their way through 104 matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July, there's only one way to write on a wall and stay on top of every game as it happens.

To accommodate the biggest-ever World Cup, FourFourTwo has a World Cup wall chart of epic dimensions. Grab your pen and start planning!

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

Japan were the very first team to qualify for World Cup 2026 on the pitch and South Korea were seventh. A year-long wait is nearly over and this is the version of the wall chart that covers kick-off times in Japan Standard Time and Korea Standard Time (UTC+9), so fans in Tokyo, Seoul and the rest of those countries, this one's for you.

Our wall chart is perfect for tracking the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

It prints out into eight A4 sheets to create an A1 wall chart, so clearing some space first is a must.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

If a black and white version is kinder to your eyes and/or your printer, we've got you covered too.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

As World Cup 2026 gets closer and closer, there's no denying the universal yearning for a World Cup wall chart that's just right. It's the biggest-ever World Cup, so we've created our biggest-ever wall chart to cover all 48 squads and all 104 matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July.

What are you waiting for? FourFourTwo's World Cup wall chart is ready to download and stick up now.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

Printing out as eight A4 sheets to create an A1-sized poster, our wall chart is all you need to keep track of the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

This version is the one you need if you'll be watching the World Cup in China, which observes only China Standard Time (UTC+8) despite its vast size spanning what used to be many time zones. That means Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and every other city in China are on the right timings for this version.

Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan are also on the same time along with other regions of Asia and indeed Western Australia, so this is the version for you if you'll be watching the Socceroos from Perth in 2026.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

You might prefer a black and white version, so we've covered that too. It's the same as the full colour version in every other regard.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

Football fans around the globe are gearing up for World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July and we now know all 48 squads who will be involved in 104 matches. That sounds like a summer for a wall chart, so we're bringing you exactly that.

Pen at the ready. FourFourTwo's biggest-ever World Cup wall chart is waiting for you.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

This is the wall chart you need to stay on top of the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

India Standard Time (UTC+5.5) means football fans in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and indeed Sri Lankan capital Colombo can use this version of our wall chart.

It's an A1 poster that prints out as eight A4 sheets. Download it, print it and get it up on the wall. The World Cup is waiting for you.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

If a full colour version is a bit much for your sensibilities, your ink budget or your wall, this black and white version is the answer for which you're looking.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

The excitement is ramping up for World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July and we now know all 48 squads who will be taking part. With 104 matches to track, you're going to need a wallchart to fill in. Grab a pen and switch your printer on – we've got you.

FourFourTwo's biggest-ever wall chart is here for football's biggest-ever World Cup.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

This hefty wall chart means you can keep track of the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

If you're watching the World Cup in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan or the Maldives, among other spots, you're in the right place. This version of our wall chart has timings for matches in Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+5).

The wall chart prints out into eight A4 sheets to make up an A1 poster, so you're going to need to clear some space on that wall!

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

If you have a minimalist sense of style or just a shortage of colour ink, we've got a version for you too.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

World Cup 2026 will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July and we now know all 48 squads who will be a part of it. That format amounts to 104 matches so it's going to take quite a wall chart to stay on top of it all. That's where we come in.

This year, we have FourFourTwo's biggest-ever World Cup wall chart and it's yours for absolutely nothing.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

With a mega wall chart like this, you can keep track of the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

This version is for Moscow Standard Time and East Africa Time (UTC+3). It's the one you'll need if you're going to watch the World Cup in Moscow (obviously) and a bunch of other cities in Russia, as well as Istanbul, Baghdad, Riyadh and Doha – Moscow excepted, all of those have national teams qualified for the finals this summer.

Our wallchart is an A1 poster that prints out into eight A4 sheets. We think it's the perfect size to follow the World Cup in detail.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

There's a black and white version too, if you prefer. The colour is the only difference so download now and print away!

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

There will be 104 matches at World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July and we now know all 48 squads who will compete in them. That's a lot of matches and there's no better way to stay on top of a schedule like that than with a huge wall chart.

You'd better believe we've got a huge wall chart. In fact, it's our biggest ever. For a tournament of such dimensions, it really had to be.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

If you've got a section of wall going begging, this beast will let you keep track of the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

This is the version created specifically for Central European Summer Time (UTC+2), so it's the one you'll need if you're planning to take in the World Cup from Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Czechia, Sweden or Norway, among other non-qualified nations we won't mention.

You'll be printing eight A4 sheets to create an A1 behemoth of a wall chart, so you'd better have plenty of brand-neutral adhesive tack to hand.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

We also have an ink cartridge-friendly black and white version that you can print if you prefer. It's otherwise identical to the colour version.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

With the World Cup 2026 schedule set and all 48 squads who will be competing in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July now locked in for the summer, our attention and presumably yours too is turning to the significant matter of the all-important World Cup wall chart.

This 2026 version is our biggest-ever wall chart, tailor-made for you to print out and track all 104 matches.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

Yes, we've gone super-sized for this summer's World Cup so you can stay close to every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

This is the version specifically for Central Daylight Time (UTC-5), the local time zone for World Cup host cities Houston and Arlington as well as Dallas (obviously), New Orleans, Minneapolis, Nashville and Winnipeg.

It's an A1 wall chart so it prints out into eight A4 sheets, amply sized to hide the tunnel you're definitely not digging through the wall behind it.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

There are loads of reasons to prefer a black and white version of our wall chart, so we've got a black and white version of our wall chart. Enjoy!

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

World Cup 2026 is almost here and we now know the full line-up of all 48 squads who will be competing in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July. Now, it's time to turn your attention to that space on your wall and look forward to filling in the scores of all 104 matches.

Get that pen ready, check the printer ink is full and get stuck into FourFourTwo's biggest-ever wall chart for football's biggest-ever World Cup finals.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

The all-important wall chart has landed, so you're equipped to follow every second of the action from the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 to East Rutherford's MetLife Stadium hosting the final on July 19.

This version of the wall chart lists the matches for Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7), the local time zone for World Cup host cities Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver. It also includes Tijuana and the rest of Baja California in Mexico.

It's an A1 wall chart, so (a) it's an absolute beast and (b) it prints out into eight A4 sheets to whack on your wall. Have fun!

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

Need a black-and-white version? Don't settle for a colour copy dragged through a black-only print job! We've got you covered. This version is exactly the same but it's ready to print without colour.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

World Cup 2026 is now set in stone, with all 48 squads who will be competing in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July now settled. That being the case, all that's left for those of us not attending in person is to get the wall chart sorted and wait.

FourFourTwo's biggest-ever wall chart is just the ticket if you don't have tickets. Print it out, pick your pen and stay across all 104 matches this summer.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

This spectacular wall chart lets you track every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

You've come to the right place if you'll be watching in Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-6), the local time zone for major cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, El Paso, Santa Fe, Edmonton, Calgary and, for fans of Ice Road Truckers, Yellowknife.

This is an A1 wall chart that prints out into eight A4 sheets ready for that big gap you've made on the wall. Enjoy!

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

If you want to save some cash by printing in black and white, this is the version you need. It's exactly the same as the colour version, just without the colour. Your ink budget will thank you.

Download the wall chart in black and white

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here and it's yours to download for free.

We now know the full line-up for World Cup 2026 and the 48 squads who will play in 104 matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July in for the summer. You know what that means: It's World Cup wall chart time.

To accommodate the biggest-ever World Cup, we've got FourFourTwo's biggest-ever World Cup wall chart. It's only fair.

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart from FourFourTwo

This monster wall chart will let you track the scores of every match from the first fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

You've found our Eastern Daylight Time version (UTC-4) so you're in the right place if you'll be watching the World Cup in host cities New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami or Toronto, or in other major cities including Detroit, Charlotte, Montreal and Ottawa.

It prints out into eight A4 sheets to create a colossal A1 wall chart, so you'd better prepare a pretty hefty bit of wall.

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

Prefer a black and white version? No problem! We've also produced this otherwise identical but printer-friendly wall chart to save on ink.

Download the wall chart in black and white

HBO Max arrived in the UK on 26 March, but that has not affected football fans until this weekend, with the FA Cup returning ahead of more Champions League and Premier League action next week.

Since its arrival in 2023, TNT Sports has been available to stream via the Discovery+ platform, but that is now changing.

Subscribers will now need to log in to HBO Max to watch TNT Sports online, with the new streaming service replacing Discovery+. Do not worry if you access it through your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, nothing has changed there.

For those streaming TNT Sports, we will guide you through how to watch it on HBO Max and outline the best plans if you do not already subscribe.

How to watch TNT Sports on HBO Max

Fortunately, it is all very simple, as your Discovery+ login gives you instant access to TNT Sports on HBO Max.

You do not need to create a new account. Just enter your existing Discovery+ username and password on the HBO Max app or website, and you will be ready to go.

For those who accessed TNT Sports through Prime Video, the same login process applies.

Best TNT Sports on HBO Max deal

HBO Max offers several ways to access TNT Sports, and you can now get it for £5 less than it previously cost with Discovery+.

More from FourFourTwo

• How to watch Champions League 2025/26 — Free Streams
• How to watch Premier League 2025/26
• I watched England vs Uruguay from premium seats — here is what I thought

It's been one of the biggest fixtures in English football for the past decade - and now Manchester City and Liverpool will go head-to-head once more with a place in the FA Cup semi-finals on the line.

Buy a VIP package for Man City vs Liverpool with Seat Unique.

The Etihad Stadium will host the occasion as Pep Guardiola's side look to push for a second domestic trophy of the season having already secured the Carabao Cup - but Liverpool will be desperate to spoil their party as they look for their own silverware to help get something out of a disappointing season

VIP tickets are still available for Manchester City vs Liverpool

VIP tickets are available for this match, and you can get yourself a ticket that comes complete with access to an exclusive bar and lounge and an executive padded seat.

Kick-off is scheduled for 12:45pm, with Manchester City looking to claim a third win of the season over Arne Slot's Reds having won both of their meetings in the Premier League this season.

City claimed a massive 10-1 win over League One Exeter City in the third round before getting one over on Manchester United's Class of 92 by knocking out Salford City in the next round.

Newcastle United then fell to City in the fifth round last month, with Liverpool's number coming out of the bowl of balls to set up this tantalising fixture.

Liverpool have had to overturn two fellow Premier League sides already since beating third-tier Barnsley 4-1 in January. Brighton and Wolves were both unable to avoid falling casualty to Liverpool in the past two rounds.

With Arsenal and Chelsea among the potential opponents in the next round at Wembley, it's all on the line in this straight knockout tie - and a winner must be decided on the day.

Last-minute FA Cup Manchester City vs Liverpool tickets

Seat Unique offers a range of hospitality seats at the Etihad Stadium for this vital FA Cup clash clash.

The price includes extras, as well as a premium seat in the ground. If buying more than one ticket, your seats will be situated next to each other.

FourFourTwo have picked out the two last-minute options still available, priced from £189 and going all the way up to full-on three-course dining.

Seat Unique's VIP tickets don't just apply to the Premier League or FA Cup; they have a host of packages including all the major European Leagues and the Champions League.

Seat Unique also has VIP tickets for many other British clubs. Take your pick from: Arsenal, Arsenal Women, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Birmingham City WFC, Brentford, Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Everton, Everton Women, Fleetwoood Town, Forest Green Rovers, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Plymouth Argyle, Rangers, Sheffield United, Southampton, Swansea City, Tottenham, Watford, Wigan Athletic, and Wolverhampton.

If you can't make it to a game weekend, our handy guide on how to watch the Premier League has all the details on broadcasters and live streams, and how to access all the action by using a VPN from anywhere.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The World Cup 2026 wall chart is here, and it's yours to download for free.

World Cup 2026 is well underway, and throughout all the twists and turns, it's hard to keep up with which path your team is currently on and who they could feasibly face in the next round, should they make it through.

And that's why a wall chart is an absolute must – as well as for the fun of filling out each of the scores as they happen. All you need is a printer, some paper and a pen to get involved…

Standard colour World Cup wall chart

Your World Cup 2026 wall chart FREE DOWNLOAD from FourFourTwo

The World Cup is underway, but you're never too late to enjoy the fun of filling out a huge sheet of paper with football scores, now are you?

This is your wall chart for British Summer Time timings – that's GMT+1 from March until October, of course – which means that this is the wall chart for you if you're in England, Portugal or Nigeria.

A reminder, too, that this is an A1 wall chart, so it prints out into eight A4 sheets to put on your wall. Enjoy!

Download the wall chart in colour

Black and white version

Download a black-and-white World Cup 2026 wall chart

In case you need it, we've got a black-and-white version, too. This is exactly the same as the original – but won't cost you an arm and a leg in colour ink cartridges.

Download the wall chart in black and white

Buy our A1 wall chart

Sweepstake kit

FREE Printable World Cup 2026 Sweepstake Kit: Download PDF Template, Teams & Rules

Download the World Cup 2026 Sweepstake PDF

Our free World Cup 2026 sweepstake PDF includes all 48 teams, printable team cards, tournament odds and simple office sweepstake rules.”
Impact: High

Play our World Cup Predictor game

Get a free £5 bet from BOYLE Sports and also be in with a chance of winning a share of our £1,000 prize pot every round

World Cup 2026 Teams Included

World Cup 2026 teams included in your sweepstake

• Algeria
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Colombia
• Croatia
• Curaçao
• Czech Republic
• DR Congo
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• England
• France
• Germany
• Ghana
• Haiti
• Iran
• Iraq
• Ivory Coast
• Japan
• Jordan
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Scotland
• Senegal
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• United States
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan

Helpful Tips for the Organiser

Keep a Master Sheet: As soon as a team is drawn, write down the player's name next to that country immediately. People will forget who they drew.

Create a Group Chat: Send out regular updates after the group stages and knockout rounds to stoke the banter, especially when a massive favourite gets knocked out early by a dark horse.

World Cup 2026 Sweepstake Organiser Guide

A World Cup sweepstake is a classic way to get everyone involved, whether they are die-hard fans or people who don't know what offside means.

This years competition has a record 48-teams competing for the 2026 World Cup, so the maths changes slightly from the old 32-team version, but setup is just as easy.

Here is a step-by-step guide to running one perfectly:

Step 1: Set a Buy-In / Prize Pool
Before you draw teams, decide how much it costs to enter. This creates your total prize pot.

Low Stakes: £2 or £5 per team (good for the workplace).

Medium Stakes: £10 or £20 per team (good for the Whatsapp group and family).

Examples prize pots:
48 teams at £10 each creates a £960 total prize pot.
48 teams at £10 each creates a £480 total prize pot.
48 teams at £5 each creates a £240 total prize pot.
48 teams at £2 each creates a £96 total prize pot.

Step 2: Figure Out the Player Allocation

Because there are 48 nations, you need to adapt based on how many people want to play:

Exactly 24 people? Everyone gets 2 teams.

Exactly 16 people? Everyone gets 3 teams.

Exactly 12 people? Everyone gets 4 teams.

An awkward number of people (e.g., 18 or 30)? Allow people to buy as many individual tickets as they want until all 48 teams are assigned. If you have teams left over at the end, you can pool them together as "The House" (if the House wins, everyone gets their entry money back).

Step 3: The Draw (The Fun Part)

Print out your FourFourTwo sweepstake kit and cut out all 48 team names.

Fold them up and put them into a hat, bowl, or mug.

Have players draw their teams blindly. If you are running it remotely, you can film yourself drawing them or use an online randomiser tool, but doing it live always adds the best drama (especially when someone draws a favourite like Spain or a massive long-shot like New Zealand).

Step 4: Split the Prizes

Don't just give all the money to the person who wins the tournament—spreading the prizes keeps more people interested for longer. A standard 48-team payout structure looks like this:

1st Place (World Cup Winner): 60% of the pot

2nd Place (Runner-up): 25% of the pot

3rd & 4th Place (Losing Semi-Finalists): 5% each of the pot

The Wooden Spoon (The worst team): 5% of the pot (Give this to the team that finishes 48th with the worst goal difference/most goals conceded in the group stage to keep the underdog owners cheering!).

FAQs