Think of it like your favourite TV series. You’ve just finished a brilliant season, but the next one doesn’t drop for two years. It’s frustrating, right? But the qualifying games are the “behind-the-scenes” episodes and the teaser trailers. They’re where the drama really starts.
England’s men’s team will start playing World Cup qualifiers in early 2026. These matches are the bread and butter. They’re the Tuesday night games where you accidentally eat a whole bag of crisps because Harry Kane is about to score a last-minute winner. They are the reason you get to party in the summer.
For the women, the qualifying campaign for 2027 has just begun. Watching them play is like watching your little sister absolutely crush it at the school sports day, except your sister is a world-class athlete and the sports day is against Germany. It’s pure joy.
World Cup 2026: England and Argentina win quarterfinals in extra time
The “Is It On TV?” Panic
We’ve all been there. You see a tweet saying, “England playing tonight!” and you freeze. You start frantically scrolling through your TV guide, shouting at anyone nearby, “Is it on BBC or ITV?!” For the next two years, the answer is usually ITV or Sky Sports for the men’s qualifiers. The Lionesses are often on BBC, which is brilliant because you don’t need a subscription. Just put the kettle on, grab a biscuit, and you’re sorted. No panic necessary.
