By Harry Mottram: With a pair of pinking scissors I managed to cut out the back of the Shredded Wheat box and assembled a cardboard World Cup Willie. He was the first as far as I know piece of Merch for the 1966 World Cup Finals – a friendly cartoon lion who appeared on jigsaws, posters and as a cuddly soft toy – as well as on cereal packets. The 1962 finals in Chile had passed me by since we didn’t have a TV at the time – or one that could screen the matches live before I went to bed. I was only six.
1966 was different – partly because by then I was considered to be a reliable if unskilled right back playing for Stella Maris Convent Primary School in Seaton – a notable 0-0 draw against the Manor House Primary School my claim to fame – and I even owned a football – a big thing in those days. Plus we had a Spanish boy student staying with us the year before who insisted Spain was the best team in the world – which prompted me (with zero knowledge) to claim England were. And when the competition in England finally kicked off I was proved right for the only time in my football predictions career. By then we had a black and white TV which was a sort of an oval shaped with a rather blurry image – but I could watch the games. I was so nervous when England reached the final that I played out the match behind the sofa using my World War 2 soldiers as players and miraculously came up with the same result – mainly because my dad shouted out the scores as the game unfolded. With England 3-2 up against Germany I joined the rest of the family to watch the closing minutes and the famous final ‘people are on the pitch’ goal.
1970 was expected to be a second England victory – this time in Mexico – as by then I had a paper round and could read the anticipated triumph on the pages of the Daily Sketch. It was a crushing disappointment when – still in black and white – West Germany gained revenge by knocking England out of the cup – in the play ground the next day there was a sense of mourning and disbelief. Finally reality kicked into the national psyche – from now on we had to accept not only were England not the best team in the world – but the Empire had gone – the swinging sixties were over, midi skirts began replacing mini skirts, the Beatles broke up, the price of Penthouse Magazine went over a pound, Ted Heath won the election and the nation had entered the cold realities of the 1970s.
Things perked up for the 1974 finals as I watched the games in Germany on my friend’s colour TV in Seaton with Scotland proving to be a pretty decent team – while in 1978 in Argentina there was the Archie Gemel ‘this hard little professional’ goal against Holland – and my favourite Scottish football song: We’re on the march we’re Ally’s Army. After each game me, Frank, Paul, John, Debbie and anyone else watching our colour TV which only had purple as a colour play football in the park off Eastbourne Road in Taunton – it was a happy time – even if we were terrible footballers.
1982 saw England achieve respectability with the Bryan Robson goal in the opening minute against France but the campaign ended before the semis as the team didn’t er… score enough goals. Thankfully by the later stages the Falklands war had ended – it could have been tricky if England had met Argentina in the final – a bit like if Iran end up playing the USA this time. But by 1982 I had a colour TV rented from Rediffusion in Taunton as I was in gainful employment in an advertising agency in Yeovil.
1986 was the ‘hand of God’ goal by Maradona as England were knocked out of the competition – but a young Gary Lineker had become something of a star – when footballers wore very short shorts. He also shone in Italia 90 along with Gazza with the ‘Golden Generation’ of English footballers – and finally England turned up and reached the semi finals – only to go out to Germany and the start of the penalty agonies when Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle were to be haunted by the failure to score from the spot.
1994 in the USA largely passed me by – probably due to being busy changing nappies or working long hours in Bristol as an advertising copy writer. 1998 in France was remembered as much for David Beckham getting sent off as another penalty shoot out defeat at the hands of arch rivals ‘The Argies.’ 2002 in Korea England ‘did good’ under Erikson – the manager with the most written about sex life in English management history – but acclaimed for the 1-5 thrashing of Germany to qualify. 2006 in Germany saw more penalty agony – this time it was Portugal who gave Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher nightmares in the knock out stage. 2010 in South Africa saw England lose 4-1 to Germany to be sent home early while in in 2014 in Brazil England flopped in the heat. 2018 in Russia they came good reaching the semis only lose to Croatia – by now England finally seemed to have found their level – with the quarter finals in Qatar when they lost to France – essentially in the top ten teams in the world. Will they win the World Cup in 2026? Of course – since I’m an unrepentant optimist – hopefully playing Scotland in the final.
Full 2026 World Cup schedule by day
Scotland’s World Cup Group C games
- Haiti vs Scotland – Sunday June 14, Boston, 2am (UK time)
- Scotland vs Morocco – Friday June 19, Boston, 11pm (UK time)
- Scotland vs Brazil – Wednesday June 24, Miami, 11pm (UK time)
England’s World Cup Group L games
- England vs Croatia – Wednesday June 17, Dallas, 9pm (UK time)
- England vs Ghana – Tuesday June 23, Boston, 9pm (UK time)
- Panama vs England – Saturday June 27, New York-New Jersey, 10pm (UK time)
Thursday, June 11
- Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, kick-off 8pm – Mexico City, Mexico
Friday, June 12
- Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, kick-off 3am – Zapopan, Mexico
- Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm – Toronto, Canada.
Saturday, June 13
- Group D: USA vs Paraguay, kick-off 2am – Los Angeles, USA
- Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, kick-off 8pm – Santa Clara, USA
- Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, kick-off 11pm – New Jersey, USA
Sunday, June 14
- Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, kick-off 2am – Foxborough, USA
- Group D: Australia vs Turkey, kick-off 5am – Vancouver, Canada
- Group E: Germany vs Curacao, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
- Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, kick-off 9pm – Arlington, USA
Monday, June 15
- Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, kick-off 12am – Philadelphia, USA
- Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, kick-off 3am – Guadalupe, Mexico
- Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
- Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, USA
- Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA
Tuesday, June 16
- Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, kick-off 2am – Los Angeles, USA
- Group I: France vs Senegal, kick-off 8pm – New Jersey, USA
- Group I: Iraq vs Norway, kick-off 11pm – Foxborough, USA
Wednesday, June 17
- Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, kick-off 2am – Kansas City, USA
- Group J: Austria vs Jordan, kick-off 5am – Santa Clara, USA
- Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
- Group L: England vs Croatia, kick-off 9pm – Arlington, USA
Thursday, June 18
- Group L: Ghana vs Panama, kick-off 12am – Toronto, Canada
- Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, kick-off 3am – Mexico City, Mexico
- Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
- Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
- Group B: Canada vs Qatar, kick-off 11pm – Vancouver, Canada
Friday, June 19
- Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, kick-off 2am – Zapopan, Mexico
- Group D: USA vs Australia, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, USA
- Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, kick-off 11pm – Foxborough, USA
Saturday, June 20
- Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, kick-off 1.30am – Philadelphia, USA
- Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, kick-off 4am – Santa Clara, USA
- Group A: Netherlands vs Sweden, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
- Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 9pm – Toronto, Canada
Sunday, June 21
- Group E: Ecuador vs Curacao, kick-off 1am – Kansas City, USA
- Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, kick-off 5am – Guadalupe, Mexico
- Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
- Group G: Belgium vs Iran, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
- Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA
Monday, June 22
- Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, kick-off 2am – Vancouver, Canada
- Group J: Argentina vs Austria, kick-off 6pm – Arlington, USA
- Group I: France vs Iraq, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, USA
Tuesday, June 23
- Group I: Norway vs Senegal, kick-off 1am – Toronto, Canada
- Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, kick-off 4am – Santa Clara, USA
- Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
- Group L: England vs Ghana, kick-off 9pm – Foxborough, USA
Wednesday, June 24
- Group L: Panama vs Croatia, kick-off 12am – Foxborough, USA
- Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo, kick-off 3am – Zapopan, Mexico
- Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, kick-off 8pm – Vancouver, Canada
- Group B: Bosnia & Herzegovinavs Qatar, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, USA
- Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, kick-off 11pm – Atlanta, USA
- Group C: Scotland vs Brazil, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA
Thursday, June 25
- Group A: South Africa vs South Korea, kick-off 2am – Guadalupe, Mexico
- Group A: Czech Republic vs Mexico, kick-off 2am – Mexico City, Mexico
- Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 9pm – Philadelphia, USA
- Group E: Ecuador vs Germany, kick-off 9pm – New Jersey, USA
Friday, June 26
- Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, kick-off 12am – Kansas City, USA
- Group F: Japan vs Sweden, kick-off 12am – Arlington, USA
- Group D: Turkey vs USA, kick-off 3am – Los Angeles, USA
- Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, kick-off 3am – Santa Clara, USA
- Group I: Norway vs France, kick-off 8pm – Foxborough, USA
- Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, kick-off 8pm – Toronto, Canada
Saturday, June 27
- Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 1am – Houston, USA
- Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, kick-off 1am – Zapopan, Mexico
- Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, kick-off 4am – Vancouver, Canada
- Group G: Egypt vs Iran, kick-off 4am – Seattle, USA
- Group L: Panama vs England, kick-off 10pm – New Jersey, USA
- Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, USA
Sunday, June 28
- Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, kick-off 12.30am – Miami, USA
- Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 12.30am – Atlanta, USA
- Group J: Algeria vs Austria, kick-off 3am – Kansas City, USA
- Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, kick-off 3am – Arlington, USA
- Round of 32 – Match 73: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
Monday, June 29
- Round of 32 – Match 76: Group C winners vs Group F runners-up, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
- Round of 32 – Match 74: Group E winners vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm – Foxborough, USA
Tuesday, June 30
- Round of 32 – Match 75: Group F winners vs Group C runners-up, kick-off 2am – Guadalupe, Mexico
- Round of 32 – Match 78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm – Arlington, USA
- Round of 32 – Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm – New Jersey, USA
Wednesday, July 1
- Round of 32 – Match 79: Group A winners vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am – Mexico City, Mexico
- Round of 32 – Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
- Round of 32 – Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm – Seattle, USA
Thursday, July 2
- Round of 32 – Match 81: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 1am – Santa Clara, USA
- Round of 32 – Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
Friday, July 3
- Round of 32 – Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am – Toronto, Canada
- Round of 32 – Match 85: Group B winners vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am – Vancouver, Canada
- Round of 32 – Match 88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm – Arlington, USA
- Round of 32 – Match 86: Group J winners vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm – Miami, USA
Saturday, July 4
- Round of 32 – Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am – Kansas City, USA
- Round of 16 – Match 90: Match 73 winners vs Match 75 winners, kick-off 6pm – Houston, USA
- Round of 16 – Match 89: Match 74 winners vs Match 77 winners, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, USA
Sunday, July 5
- Round of 16 – Match 91: Match 76 winners vs Match 78 winners, kick-off 9pm – New Jersey, USA
Monday, July 6
- Round of 16 – Match 92: Match 79 winners vs Match 80 winners, kick-off 1am – Mexico City, Mexico
- Round of 16 – Match 93: Match 83 winners vs Match 84 winners, kick-off 8pm – Arlington, USA
Tuesday, July 7
- Round of 16 – Match 94: Match 81 winners vs Match 82 winners, kick-off 1am – Seattle, USA
- Round of 16 – Match 95: Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, USA
- Round of 16 – Match 96: Match 85 winners vs Match 87 winners, kick-off 9pm – Vancouver, Canada
Thursday, July 9
- Quarter-final – Match 97: Match 89 winners vs Match 90 winners, kick-off 9pm – Foxborough, USA
Friday, July 10
- Quarter-final – Match 98: Match 93 winners vs Match 94 winners, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, USA
Saturday, July 11
- Quarter-final – Match 99: Match 91 winners vs Match 92 winners, kick-off 10pm – Miami, USA
Sunday, July 12
- Quarter-final – Match 100: Match 95 winners vs Match 96 winners, kick-off 2am – Kansas City, USA
Tuesday, July 14
- Semi-final – Match 101: Match 97 winners vs Match 98 winners, kick-off 8pm – Arlington, USA
Wednesday, July 15
- Semi-final – Match 102: Match 99 winners vs Match 100 winners, kick-off 8pm – Atlanta, USA
Saturday, July 18
- Third Place Playoff – Match 103: Match 101 losers vs Match 102 losers, kick-off 10pm – Miami, USA
Sunday, July 19
- Final – Match 104: Match 101 winners vs Match 102 winners, kick-off 8pm – New Jersey, USA