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Learn English Through Football Podcast: 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (September 2024)
In this football language podcast we look at some language from the recent 2026 World Cup qualifiers from both the South American and Asian regions. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com.
2026 World Cup Qualifiers
DB: You’re listening to Languagecaster.com’s football language podcast. Welcome to the show for all those who love the beautiful game and who want to improve their English. My name’s Damon and I’m based in a very very hot Tokyo. When is autumn going to come?
I hope the weather is better where you are. And I’m sure Damian is enjoying some nice sun, as he is taking a break somewhere in Spain. I hope he can get chance to watch the big north London derby this Sunday. That is of course Arsenal versus Tottenham.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Brazilian)
On the Show
DB: OK, on today’s show, we will be looking at some of the games from the World Cup qualifiers, which were held in South America and Asia. We are going to talk about Japan and Argentina and pick some football language from each one to focus on.
After looking at the football language from some of the internationals, we’ll have a quick look at how our predictions are going. Listeners, remember, each week we have a guest predictor and a mini league of me, Damon, and Damian and guests. Let us know at admin@languagecaster.com if you’d like to try to beat us as a guest predictor.
Japan 7-0 China
DB: The first match we’ll look at is Japan versus China. This really was a mismatch – a game where one team is much stronger than the other. Japan thrashed their opponents 7-0. The verb to thrash means to beat another team easily by scoring a lot of goals. We could also use ‘to hammer‘ or ‘to crush‘, so Japan hammered China 7-0.
The Japanese side followed up this impressive win with another thrashing. They beat Bahrain 5-0. When a team scores a lot of goals, we can use the phrase, ‘they scored a hatful, a hatful of goals.’
The two results leave Japan riding high in the qualifying group, and unless there is a complete disaster, they look nailed on for a top two qualifying spot. If something is nailed on, it is certain to happen, the outcome can be easily predicted.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Japanese)
Argentina 3-0 Chile
In the South American World Cup qualifiers, Argentina comfortably beat Chile 3-0, even without their talisman, Lionel Messi. A talisman, is a player that brings a team luck. When a talisman plays, the team is stronger, and when the team doesn’t have their talisman, their fans and pundits wonder if they will be able to play well.
Argentina cruised to victory with goals from Mac Allister, Alvarez and Dybala. To cruise to victory is to win easily with no need to give 100% effort.
Their match with Columbia was not so easy, however. They were beaten 2-1, as Columbia got revenge for losing to Argentina 1-0 in the Copa America final. Columbia stifled the Argentine attack and sealed the win with a penalty. To stifle your opponent is to not allow them to be effective, to stop them doing their job.
Glossary
DB: So we have looked at a few football language phrases and words from the World Cup qualifiers: mismatch, to thrash, hatful of goals, and nailed on from Japan’s games. Then, to cruise to victory, talisman, and stifle from Argentina’s two matches. Remember, that here at Languagecaster’s site you can find out more about some of the words and phrases that we have already discussed today. We also have hundreds more football-language expressions. Just come along to our football-language glossary and take a look.
Predictions
DB: OK, let’s take a look at the predictions table, where I am top on 16 points! 3 ahead of Damian on 13 and our guests’ combined score is 10. I think my perfect 3 points for guessing a 2-0 win for England over Ireland helped me get top spot.
Coming up this week we’ve got games from the Premier League, La Liga, and Série A in Brazil. First up is Liverpool versus Nottingham Forest. I’m going for a 2-0 win for Liverpool. I think they’ll keep a clean sheet and keep their good scoring form going.
For the North London derby, Tottenham v Arsenal, I think Spurs will sneak a 1-0 win. Arsenal have their captain, Odegaard, out with an ankle injury and another midfielder, Declan Rice, is suspended, so it could be a chance for the inconsistent Spurs to claim bragging rights.
Aston Villa host Everton in our third Premier league match. 1-1 for me. Everton will finally get a point and will fight back after losing three matches on the bounce.
For our last two games we go first to La Liga where Real Sociedad take on the more famous Real, Real Madrid. Sociedad have had a poor start to the season with two defeats and a draw against just one win, and I think they’ll get beaten in this match too. 2-0 for Real Madrid.
And in Brazil it is a big Rio de Janeiro derby between Flamengo and Vasco da Gama. If I’m honest, I haven’t been following the football in the Brazilian league, so I will go with home advantage and say a 2-1 win for Flamengo. Well, we’ll see how my predictions go next week!
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Contact
DB: And if you have any questions or comments about any of the language from today or indeed any other football language then drop us an email at admin@languagecaster.com. And don’t forget we also have a football-language forum where you can ask and answer any questions you have on the language of football and post your predictions there too. Oh, don’t forget, youtube as well, where you can find lots of our podcasts. Spread the word and give us a like.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Korean).
Goodbye
DB: Cheers for that message, which was in Korean. We also heard some stingers in Brazilian and Japanese. Thanks everyone for listening today. Don’t forget there’s a transcript for this podcast with lots of vocabulary support just come along and take a look. Tara! Enjoy all the football.