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.

https://media.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/content.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/podcast_WCQualifiers_130924.mp3

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.



http://gty.im/2170554595



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 pund...