Episodi

  • Learn English Through Football: Talking About the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Learn English Through Football: Talking About the 2026 FIFA World Cup
    Jan 26 2026
    Hey everyone, welcome back to Learn English Through Football. I’m Jake. And I’m Maria. Today we’re doing something fun and, honestly, super useful for your English
 we’re talking about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yeah
 and we’re not just chatting for fun. We’re using the World Cup to learn everyday English, football vocabulary, and a few phrases you can use in real conversations. Exactly. And don’t worry if you’re not, like, a hardcore football expert. If you can say “goal” and “wow,” you’re already halfway there. True. So, quick overview: the 2026 World Cup is a big one because it’s hosted in three countries
 the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Three hosts. That’s a great English phrase, by the way: “co-hosts” or “joint hosts.” You can say, “The tournament is co-hosted by
” Nice. And another major thing
 the tournament is bigger than before. More teams. Right, it’s expanding. So the phrase “to expand” means to get bigger. Like, “The World Cup is expanding to include more teams.” And you can also say “an expanded tournament.” That’s a common adjective form. Okay, so let’s make this practical. Imagine you’re talking with a friend and you want to bring this up. You could say, “Did you hear the 2026 World Cup is being held in North America?” Or more casual: “Hey, did you know the next World Cup is in the US, Canada, and Mexico?” Yeah. “Did you know
” is such an easy conversation starter. Let’s do some key vocabulary. First one: “host city.” That’s a city where matches are played. And you might hear “venue” too. A venue is the place where an event happens, like a stadium. So you can say, “This stadium is a World Cup venue.” Exactly. And when you talk about stadiums, another common word is “capacity.” Like, “That stadium has a huge capacity,” meaning it can hold a lot of people. Capacity is a great word. Not just for sports. You can say, “This room is at full capacity,” like
 it’s totally full. So, Maria, if you were planning a trip for the World Cup, what would you say in English? Like, a normal sentence. Hmm
 I’d say, “I’m thinking of traveling for the World Cup, but I need to plan my budget.” Budget. Super important word. Your budget is basically the money plan, right? Right. Like, how much you can afford. Another travel phrase: “book a flight,” “book a hotel.” And if prices are too high, you can say, “It’s out of my budget.” That phrase is really common. Yes. Also, you’ll hear people say “I’m saving up.” That means you’re putting money aside over time. Okay, now football English. Let’s start with the basics: “match” and “game.” In football, people often say “match.” Americans might say “game” more. True, but both are understood. You can say, “Did you watch the match?” or “Did you watch the game?” Then there’s “group stage.” That’s the early part where teams play in groups. And after that you get into the “knockout stage,” where, basically, if you lose
 you’re out. That phrase “you’re out” is nice and informal. Like, “They lost, so they’re out of the tournament.” Or “They got knocked out.” That’s a super common football phrase. Let’s practice a few reactions you can say while watching. Like when something surprising happens
 Oh, easy. “No way!” Or “You’re kidding!” Or if you’re shocked
 “I can’t believe it.” And if somebody scores an amazing goal: “What a goal!” Or more dramatic: “That was insane.” Now, let’s talk about predictions. People love predicting the winner. Yeah, and it’s a great way to practice future language. You can say, “I think Brazil will win,” or “I’m pretty sure France is going to go far.” “Go far” means they’ll reach later rounds, maybe semifinals or final. So if you say, “They’ll go far,” you mean they’ll do well. Also, “favorites.” Like, “They’re one of the favorites.” That means many people think they have a strong chance to win. Right. And the opposite could be “underdog.” That’s a team people don’t expect to win
 but they might surprise everyone. I love underdog stories. And by the way, “an underdog story” is used outside sports too. Like someone starting with disadvantages and then succeeding. Now let’s do a quick mini-roleplay. You’re at work or school, and someone asks you about the World Cup. Maria, ask me a question. Okay
 Jake, are you excited about the 2026 World Cup? Uh, yeah, totally. I’m especially excited because it’s in North America. I feel like the atmosphere is going to be crazy. Nice. “Atmosphere” means the feeling in the stadium or in the city—like the energy. Yeah. And then you could ask, “What teams are you supporting?” And you can answer, “I’m supporting
” or “I’m rooting for
” which is a great phrase. “I’m rooting for Mexico,” ...
    Mostra di piĂč Mostra meno
    13 min
  • 2026 World Cup Groups Revealed — Learn English Through Football!

    2026 World Cup Groups Revealed — Learn English Through Football!
    Jan 24 2026

    Episode 2 explores the 2026 World Cup group format, key matchups and the 16 host cities across Mexico, the USA and Canada. Jake and Maria teach useful football and travel vocabulary—like draw, seeding, home advantage, time zones and more—using real examples and phrases you can use in conversation.

    Listeners get travel tips, fan experience vocabulary, short homework exercises to practice the new words, and a preview of Episode 3 about star players and positions. Simple, practical English for football fans everywhere.
    Mostra di piĂč Mostra meno
    22 min
  • Learn English Through Football Discussing the FIFA World Cup

    Learn English Through Football Discussing the FIFA World Cup
    Jan 24 2026

    Join Jake and Maria as they dive into the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, expanded to 48 teams and played across 16 cities.

    Alongside key facts, they teach essential football vocabulary, useful English idioms and pronunciation tips, and explain how football connects people and helps you practice English.
    Mostra di piĂč Mostra meno
    11 min