England 4-2 Croatia, Cape Verde Stun Spain & Messi's Hat-Trick

England vs Argentina: We Put Messi in OUR Team! | World Cup 2026

England are into the World Cup semi-finals! Issy and George look back at the win over Norway, hear how a festival gave Issy a new lucky superstition, and level the prediction game at 4-4 with two games left. The Golden Boot race has gone bonkers: Mbappe and Messi both on eight goals, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham one good night from an England record. Then things get cheeky: the Ultimate World Cup XI switches to three at the back so Youri Tielemans AND Lionel Messi can squeeze into midfield... days before England face Messi's Argentina for a place in the final. Plus both hosts back France against Spain, just with different scores, so the prediction game could still swing. There's an Ultimate Football Heroes audiobook up for grabs: send your score prediction to ufh@stripped.media (ask a grown-up first!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

England vs Norway: Can ANYONE Stop Haaland? | World Cup 2026 Podcast

England are into the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, Haaland knocks out Brazil, and the Golden Boot race has never been closer! Issy and George relive an all-time classic against Mexico and look ahead to Saturday's quarter-final against Norway. In this episode: - England 3-2 Mexico: one of the best games we have ever seen - Norway knock out Brazil: how do you stop Erling Haaland? - Golden Boot: Mbappe, Messi and Haaland all on seven goals (a World Cup first) - Cape Verde, heroes of the World Cup - Build the Ultimate Team: Haaland AND Kane join our XI (that's 8 of 11!) - Predictions: France v Morocco in the quarter-final Send us your predictions and voice notes: ufh@stripped.media Find the Ultimate Football Heroes books: https://heroesfootball.com/books/podcast/ New episode every Tuesday. Hosted by Issy and George. Produced by Bonnier Books and Stripped Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Mbappe & Declan Rice Join Our Ultimate Team, Plus Messi Makes History!

Declan Rice and Kylian Mbappe join our Ultimate World Cup Team, Messi makes history, and it's prediction time! Issy and George are back for World Cup 2026, building the best XI in the world one pick at a time. In this episode: - Build the Ultimate Team: Issy picks Declan Rice in midfield, George takes Kylian Mbappe on the wing (that's 6 of 11!) - Messi makes history: Leo turns 39 and becomes the all-time World Cup top scorer - England 0-0 Ghana, and Scotland fall 3-0 to Brazil - Predictions: both hosts call Croatia v Ghana Send us your predictions and voice notes: ufh@stripped.media Find the Ultimate Football Heroes books: https://heroesfootball.com/books/podcast/ New episode every Tuesday. Hosted by Issy and George. Produced by Bonnier Books and Stripped Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

England 4-2 Croatia, Cape Verde Stun Spain & Messi's Hat-Trick

The World Cup is up and running, and so are England. Issy and George break down a cagey first half and a frankly unbelievable second half as England beat Croatia 4-2, including Harry Kane's penalty (taken twice, thanks to encroachment), a Jude Bellingham goal, and a man-of-the-match shift from Elliot Anderson up against Luka Modric. Then it's the big Round One report card: Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper holding Spain on their World Cup debut, Messi's hat-trick, Germany's seven-goal statement and a flying France. The hosts get into the Messi v Ronaldo debate, reveal the Brazil v Morocco prediction result (George leads 2-0), and George reports back from the World Cup in America. We add Virgil van Dijk and Vinicius Jr to our Ultimate World Cup XI, check in on the sweepstake (good news if you have Scotland), and lock in this week's prediction: Norway v Senegal, with Erling Haaland tipped for the Golden Boot. Send us a voice note or an email at ufh@stripped.media. Read more about the players in the Ultimate Football Heroes books, the bestselling football biography series for kids: https://heroesfootball.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Big Draw: What’s Your World Cup 2026 Team?

The World Cup is finally here, and your team has already been picked for you. Issy and George kick off the Ultimate Football Heroes World Cup podcast with the Big Draw: your birthday month decides which country you cheer for all tournament, and everyone gets Scotland as a bonus team. Plus the first picks for our ultimate team, Messi’s record-breaking last World Cup, the thin air of Mexico City, and the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup. Want to win an Ultimate Football Heroes audiobook? Get a grown-up to record a voice note with your name, where you’re from, the team your birthday gave you, and who you think will win the World Cup. Send it to ufh@stripped.media. Everyone who sends one goes into this week’s draw. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]