The World Cup is up and running, and after the first week there's already plenty to talk about. We discuss the remarkable story of Cape Verde's goalkeeper and the performance that had everyone talking, weigh up the perennial BBC versus ITV debate as viewers pick their preferred World Cup home, and assess England's convincing opening victory and what it might tell us about their chances in the tournament. We also get into the increasingly controversial hydration breaks, some of the biggest surprises from the opening round of matches, and the stories that are beginning to shape this World Cup.

The World Cup is finally here! In the 1st special World Cup 2026 edition of Kiss the Badge, I share my excitement ahead of football's biggest tournament and discuss some of the major talking points and controversies surrounding the competition. I also reveal my plans for Kiss the Badge throughout the World Cup, including what listeners can expect from the podcast over the coming weeks.And, because no tournament preview would be complete without a few bold calls, I make my full World Cup predictions — from the group stage right through to the final — picking the teams I think will progress, the surprises that could shake up the tournament, and ultimately who I believe will lift the trophy.Will my predictions age like fine wine or be completely torn apart by the opening round of fixtures? There's only one way to find out.Welcome to World Cup 2026. Here we go!

In this episode, I take you along on my trip to the iconic Classic Football Shirts store, where I set myself a simple challenge: spend £500 and see what kind of gems I can come away with.

Across the visit, I pick up five shirts in total — a mix of modern kits, older retro designs, and a couple of proper grail pieces that I couldn’t leave behind. I go through each purchase in detail, breaking down why I chose them, what makes them special, and whether they were actually worth the money.

From standout designs to nostalgic classics and unexpected finds, this is part shopping spree, part football shirt deep dive. I also reflect on the overall experience of hunting for kits in-store and how it compares to online collecting.

If you’re into football shirts, retro kits, or just enjoy seeing what £500 can get you in one of the best stores in the game, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m building my ultimate 90s World Cup XI, picking the best players from the iconic tournaments of Italia '90, USA '94 and France '98. From legendary forwards like Ronaldo and Roberto Baggio, to midfield maestros like Zinedine Zidane and rock-solid defenders such as Paolo Maldini, this is a deep dive into 90s football nostalgia.I break down every position, explain my selection criteria, and debate some of the toughest calls — including goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and strikers who defined international football in the 1990s. Expect discussion around World Cup performances, iconic moments, and the players who dominated the biggest stage in football history.If you love classic football, World Cup history, and all-time XI debates, this episode is for you. Let me know your 90s World Cup XI in the comments — who makes your team?

In this episode I dive into a Premiership Years rewatch of the unforgettable 1996–97 Premier League season, revisiting one of the most iconic campaigns of the 90s. Using the classic archive episode of The Premiership Years, I go back through the biggest stories, players, and moments that defined the season and ask a simple question: was this the peak of the Premier League?

The season saw Manchester United win the title under Alex Ferguson, with Eric Cantona still pulling the strings in his final campaign before retirement. It was also the season that launched David Beckham into global superstardom, thanks to his unforgettable halfway-line goal against Wimbledon F.C. on the opening weekend.

I also look back at Newcastle United trying to challenge again after the drama of the previous season, the rise of Alan Shearer, and the chaos and goals that made 90s football so entertaining. There’s the emergence of future stars like Michael Owen at Liverpool F.C., the stylish football of Arsenal F.C., and memorable moments from clubs like Leicester City F.C., Chelsea F.C., and Blackburn Rovers F.C..

From Beckham’s halfway-line strike to Cantona’s final season, classic 90s kits, muddy pitches, and the unmistakable nostalgia of the Sky Sports era, this episode is a deep dive into what made the 1996–97 Premier League season so special.

If you love Premier League history, 90s football nostalgia, classic goals, legendary players, and revisiting old seasons through The Premiership Years, this is the perfect throwback.

In this episode we dive deep into one of the most nostalgic topics in football culture: the iconic football shirts of the 1998 World Cup in France. Was France 98 the World Cup with the greatest football kits of all time? From classic Adidas templates to unforgettable national team designs, we revisit the best France 98 World Cup shirts, the standout international football kits, and the design trends that defined late-90s football aesthetics.

We explore why France 98 kits remain some of the most beloved football shirts ever made, discussing legendary designs worn by teams like Brazil, Nigeria, France, and the Netherlands. If you're into retro football shirts, vintage soccer kits, classic World Cup jerseys, and football shirt design history, this episode is packed with nostalgia and debate.

But that’s not all. We also look at the strange and fascinating world of football shirt collaborations with music and bands, from crossover culture between football fashion, indie music, and terrace style, to the growing trend of limited-edition football kits inspired by music culture.

And because football sponsorship history is full of bizarre moments, we take a detour into the surprisingly weird story of theme park sponsors in football. From clubs backed by rollercoasters and family attractions to the oddest football shirt sponsors in history, we explore when theme parks and football clubs collided in the world of sports marketing and shirt sponsorship.

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Get ready to relive the beautiful game from Italia ’90 to South Africa 2010 as we dive into the nostalgia of World Cup theme music, comparing the iconic opening tunes and broadcast stings from BBC versus ITV. From operatic Nessun Dorma that soundtracked classic England shirts and unforgettable matches, to the sounds that became as memorable as the goals themselves, we’re ranking the best and worst World Cup TV themes of the 90s and 2000s.

This episode brings together football fans, music lovers, and World Cup obsessives to debate the tunes that defined summer after summer of international football. We talk broadcast heritage, football nostalgia, iconic moments, rank the classics, and discuss how these theme tracks shaped the soundtrack of World Cups past — from BBC’s grandeur to ITV’s stylistic choices. Tune in for nostalgic chats about kits, commentators, classic matches, and the theme music that made them unforgettable.

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In this episode of Kiss the Badge, the focus is fully on football shirt collecting. From retro football shirts and vintage football kits of the 1990s and 2000s to the modern football shirt market, this episode explores why collecting football shirts has become such a powerful obsession.

I break down why I collect football shirts, whether football shirts are meant to be worn or preserved, and how modern football shirts compare to the classic kits that defined an era. We also look at the culture around football kit collecting, including nostalgia, authenticity, and what makes certain shirts truly collectible.

There’s also a practical side to football shirt collecting: the best places to buy football shirts, the worst places to avoid, how to spot good deals, and how the market for vintage and retro football shirts has changed over time.

Whether you’re deep into football shirt collecting, just starting a football shirt collection, or simply love classic football shirts from the 90s and 2000s, this episode digs into why these shirts still matter — and why we can’t stop collecting them.

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