A giant England flag – 24ft wide and 12ft high – is being draped across a house in Skegness. Its owner, Malcolm ‘Smudger’ Smith, won the “monster” flag in a giveaway, and his home will be hard to miss as the World Cup begins. It is a vivid symbol of the hope and obsession that grips the UK every four years.
So what is the World Cup? It is the biggest men’s international football tournament, taking place every four years. The 2026 edition is “quite literally bigger than ever”, with more teams competing than in previous tournaments. England and Scotland are among the nations vying for glory, while countries like Curaçao – a tiny Caribbean island with a population of 155,000 – have qualified for the first time. The tournament begins with group-stage matches, including a warm-up game for England against New Zealand, and then the knockout rounds, building towards the final.
“An explainer on the FIFA World Cup, its UK fan culture, and the 2026 tournament.”
For many fans, the World Cup is more than just sport. It is a national event that brings people together. Pubs such as the Railway Tavern in Dereham, Norfolk, have built grandstands costing over £6,000 to host hundreds of supporters. The pub’s owner, Paul Sandford, built a “World Cup super grandstand” that holds 400 people, with room for 700 in total. Fans also decorate homes and cars with St George’s crosses. The flag giveaway by Newton Newton Flags LTD in Burgh le Marsh, Skegness, reflects the desire to back the Three Lions “in the biggest way possible”. As one spokesperson said: “1966 gave us history. Now, 60 years later… let 2026 become the new 1966. The anthem of the summer will once again be ‘It’s Coming Home’.”
The World Cup also stirs personal memories and emotions. One fan, writing in the New Statesman, described preparing for the tournament while downsizing his home. He set up his computer to watch ITV, opened a bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and dreaded England’s warm-up games against lower-ranked teams. He noted how minnows like Curaçao can “astound the football world” and that the tournament offers a chance to cheer for unexpected teams. His neighbour Nori, originally from Curaçao, is proud that her island – ranked 82nd in football – made the finals despite only one player in the squad being born there.
For UK readers, the World Cup is a shared cultural moment. It is a time when pubs are packed, gardens are filled with friends and family, and millions hold their breath with every kick. England last won the tournament in 1966, and the desire to repeat that triumph fuels the annual chant of “It’s Coming Home”. Whether through giant flags, purpose-built grandstands, or simply watching on a laptop, the World Cup becomes the centre of life for a few weeks every four years.
Q: How big is the World Cup tournament? The 2026 edition is larger than any before, with more teams competing. The exact number is not specified in the sources, but it is described as “quite literally bigger than ever”, reflecting FIFA’s expansion to 48 teams from 2026 onwards.
Q: How do fans in the UK celebrate the World Cup? Fans decorate homes and pubs with massive flags – one man won a 24ft by 12ft St George’s Cross. Pubs build grandstands to host hundreds of supporters; the Railway Tavern in Norfolk built a super grandstand costing over £6,000 that holds 400 people, with extra space for 700 in total.
Q: Which underdog teams are at the 2026 World Cup? Curaçao – a Dutch Caribbean island with 155,000 people and a football ranking of 82 – qualified for the first time. Their squad includes players from lower-league English clubs such as Rotherham, Sheffield United, and Middlesbrough. They face Germany on 14 June.
What happens next? The tournament kicks off with group matches, including Curaçao vs Germany on 14 June. England and Scotland will play their first games soon after. The knockout rounds follow, culminating in the final. Fans across the UK will watch, cheer, and hope for glory.