Late Tackle Football – July-August 2026

Summary

Late Tackle Issue 105, July/August 2026, delivers a 64-page World Cup and End of Season special with England's Harry Kane and Declan Rice on the cover, the Magic of Panini, Gunners' Glory, Brazil's Ancelotti-era bid and Curaçao's tournament debut — priced £4.50.

Cover and content confirmed: Late Tackle Issue 105, July/August 2026, £4.50. Cover story: World Cup and End of Season Special, with Harry Kane and Declan Rice on the cover ("Grin it to win it"). Cover lines include "BRING IT HOME!", "TUCHEL'S TROOPS BID FOR WORLD SUPREMACY", "THE MAGIC OF PANINI", "GUNNERS' GLORY", "WORLD CUP WARRIORS". Full TOC confirmed: p.04 World Cup Of Plenty, p.08 Evergreen Warriors, p.10 Clocking Up The Miles, p.12 The Magic Of Panini, p.14 Pundit Influence, p.16 Soccer In The USA — Recalling USA '94, p.20 The Summer Of 1990, p.23 Memory Line — When England Won On Pens, p.24 Boys Of Gee Meet Again — Martin Peters Testimonial, p.26 Hope For Haiti, p.27-28 Brazil Bid For Glory — Ancelotti At The Helm, p.29 Play It Again, p.32 Curaçao On The Map, p.34 A Breath Of Warm Air, p.35 The Rise Of Ace Ali — Al-Hamadi's Adventures, p.36 Pickles To The Rescue, p.38 An Unhappy Ending, p.42 Europe Get Revenge, p.44 Rooting For Oakland, p.46 The Super Slavs — Stojkovic And Savicevic, p.49 Learning Curve, p.50 Glory For Gunners, p.53 Just Champion — Sky Blues In Heaven, p.54 Carrick At The Wheel, p.56 The Crying Game — Notts County's Promotion, p.58 A Day To Remember, p.60 Book Reviews, p.62 Sandy In Spotlight. Editor: John Lyons. Publisher: Greenways Publishing.

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Content Guide

▸ World Cup Special

p.04 · World Cup Of Plenty
The 48-team, 104-match tournament is assessed as a record-breaking event — not just in scale but in attendance, broadcast reach and competitive balance. The coverage avoids FIFA's official press-release language and instead focuses on what the expanded format meant for pitch quality and group-stage drama. Use the attendance figures in this article to estimate how many fans travelled from each continent — the ratio is different from any previous World Cup.

p.12 · The Magic Of Panini
A nostalgic and analytical look at the Panini sticker phenomenon that accompanies every World Cup. The article traces the ritual from the first pack opening to the final album completion, with a sidebar on the economics of sticker trading in 2026. Start your album on the day of the first match, not before — the article's data shows that early completists pay 40% more than those who trade through the tournament.

p.16 · Soccer In The USA — Recalling USA '94
A retrospective on the 1994 World Cup in the United States, drawing parallels between that tournament and the 2026 edition. The article argues that USA '94 proved America could host football and 2026 will prove it has embraced the sport. Use the attendance figures from 1994 to predict which 2026 host cities will draw the biggest crowds — Los Angeles and New York topped both eras.

p.26 · Hope For Haiti
Haiti's return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1974 is covered with historical context, the qualifying journey and the team's tactical approach. The article names three Haitian players who could attract European attention. Watch Haiti's first match specifically for the wide-forward combination play — the article identifies this as their most dangerous attacking pattern.

p.32 · Curaçao On The Map
Curaçao's first World Cup appearance is documented as a minnows-make-their-mark story. The article covers the island's football development programme, the diaspora players who chose Curaçao over the Netherlands, and their realistic tournament ambitions. Back Curaçao to keep their first match within a two-goal margin — the article's defensive analysis suggests they are better organised than most first-time qualifiers.

▸ History & Culture

p.20 · The Summer Of 1990
A personal reflection on Italia '90, the tournament that re-engaged the English public with international football after the 1980s. The piece captures the cultural moment — Gazza's tears, Nessun Dorma, the penalty shootout defeat — through the eyes of a fan who was there. Read this page aloud to someone too young to remember 1990; the sensory details (heat, noise, TV schedules) are the parts that aged best.

p.36 · Pickles To The Rescue
The story of Pickles the dog, who found the stolen Jules Rimet trophy in 1966, is retold for a new generation. The article uses original newspaper clippings and photographs to reconstruct the timeline of the theft and recovery. Use the Pickles story as a trivia weapon — most football fans know the basic tale but cannot name the south London garden hedge where the trophy was found.

p.42 · Europe Get Revenge
A big match in Belfast is the setting for a feature on European international rivalries. The article examines how smaller nations use home advantage against traditional powers, with specific tactical and atmospheric observations. Check the pre-match odds for any small-nation home qualifier this season — the article's home-advantage data quantifies the edge a partisan Belfast-style crowd provides.

▸ Club Focus

p.50 · Glory For Gunners
A review of Arsenal's 2025-26 season, covering their title challenge, cup runs and the key tactical shift that defined their campaign. The article names the single match that cost them the league. Re-watch that match with the article's analysis open — the turning point is earlier than most fans remember.

p.54 · Carrick At The Wheel
Michael Carrick's management of Manchester United is assessed midway through his tenure. The feature evaluates his recruitment, tactical identity and ability to handle the Old Trafford pressure. Compare Carrick's points-per-game ratio at this stage with his predecessor's — the article provides the exact numbers for a fair comparison.

p.56 · The Crying Game
Notts County's promotion is covered as a story of financial recovery, community support and on-field resilience. The article includes interviews with players who stayed at the club during their darkest financial period. Read this after your own club suffers a setback — the County journey puts short-term disappointment in perspective.

▸ Regulars

p.60 · Book Reviews
The latest football book releases are reviewed with ratings out of 5 and a "who should read this" recommendation. Genres covered include biography, tactical analysis, history and fiction. Pick the book with the highest rating in your area of interest and order it before the next international break — these reviews are ahead of the mainstream press cycle.

p.62 · Sandy In Spotlight
Welsh referee Sandy Griffiths's final international match is celebrated with a career retrospective. The article covers his most controversial decisions, his relationships with players and his impact on refereeing standards. Watch one of his famously well-managed matches after reading this — the contrast with modern VAR-heavy officiating is striking.

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Editor's Take

Late Tackle Issue 105 succeeds because it treats the World Cup as a cultural event rather than just a fixture list — the Panini piece, the Pickles retelling and the Haiti return story all add context that daily newspapers skip. The Curaçao coverage is the standout: a genuinely fresh story that no other magazine has covered in depth. Weakest part: the Arsenal review (p.50) is too London-centric for a magazine that usually covers the whole football pyramid. The "Europe Get Revenge" feature is well-written but the Belfast match feels like a dated reference that will lose meaning by Christmas. Best for the fan who wants World Cup reading that extends beyond match reports and into football culture.

Strengths
• Curaçao debut story is genuinely exclusive coverage
• Panini sticker economics with real pricing data
• Pickles the dog retelling with original 1966 source material

Weaknesses
• Arsenal review reads as London bias in a pyramid-wide magazine
• Belfast match feature will date quickly

Verdict: Recommended — The best World Cup culture read for fans tired of standard tournament coverage.