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Sign In![Learn English Through Football Podcast: Qualify [2026 World Cup]<br />
In this week's football-language podcast we look at the word, 'qualify' and how it has been used this week after some of the (2026) World Cup qualifiers. We will also hear from a guest about one of their favourite footballers: Wayne Rooney and of course we will have some predictions. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases <a href="https://languagecaster.com/football-language-glossary/">here</a> and visit our site to access all our previous posts and <a href="https://languagecaster.com/category/podcast/">podcasts</a>. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at <a href="mailto:admin@languagecaster.com">admin@languagecaster.com</a><br />
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https://media.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/content.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/LearnEnglishThroughFootballPodcast_Qualify_2026WorldCup-esv2-89p-bg-50p.mp3<br />
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Hello<br />
DF: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.<br />
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Hello everyone and welcome to the show for all those who love the <a href="https://languagecaster.com/football-glossary-the-beautiful-game/">beautiful game</a> of football and who want to improve their English language skills. My name is Damian and I hope you are all well and enjoying good weather like we are here in London. I wonder what the weather is like in Tokyo where the other member of the Languagecaster team, Damon, is based?<br />
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Now, apologies to our listeners as we did not have a podcast last weekend. Unfortunately, I was not feeling so well so we didn't manage to post a podcast; though Damon did add our regular weekly expression earlier on in the week: he looked at the phrase, '<a href="https://languagecaster.com/football-phrase-of-the-week-turn-the-game-on-its-head/">to turn the game on its head</a>' and this came from the WSL - that's the Women's Super League here in England - and he also explained the phrase, 'to <a href="https://languagecaster.com/football-language-to-snatch/">snatch an equaliser</a>'. Check out both of those in our weekly football expression.<br />
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Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Italian)<br />
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DF: Yes, you are listening to Languagecaster and that message was in Italian. A nd we are going to have more stingers or messages throughout the show - which languages can you hear? Don't worry, we'll let you know what the languages are at the end of the show.<br />
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Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (Arsenal fan David)<br />
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Now, I wonder how Damon in Tokyo is doing? Damon?<br />
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DB: Hi there Damian and hello everyone, I'm doing very well thank you, although the weekend has seen some rain, which might spoil the cherry blossom viewing for many people here in Japan. It won't spoil the 'feel good factor', however, for fans of Japan's national team, who became the first non-host country to qualify for the World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 nine days ago. And followed that with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia, meaning they also sit top of their qualifying table by seven points. Well done to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_national_football_team">Samurai Blue.</a><br />
Qualify<br />
DF: Yes, congratulations to Japan for being the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They weren't the only side to do this over the recent <a href="https://languagecaster.com/football-language-the-international-break/">international break</a>: New Zealand qualified from Oceania, Argentina qualified from the South American Confederation (that's <a href="https://languagecaster.com/weekly-football-phrase-conmebol/">CONMEBOL</a>), while Iran also qualified from the Asian <a href="https://languagecaster.com/football-language-confederation/">Confederation</a>. That means that there are now seven countries who are assured of playing in the ...](https://us-central1-podcastguru-217d6.cloudfunctions.net/gcf_get_image?image_url=https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/28/17/72/281772b9-a8d9-f166-6cba-5444adce9364/mza_2601845735211642748.jpg/600x600bb.jpg&width=300&height=300&api_key=xqFmUFX5BHLBTA)
Learn English Through Football
Damian Fitzpatrick
Learn English Through Football Podcast: Qualify [2026 World Cup]
APR 2, 202517 MIN
Learn English Through Football Podcast: Qualify [2026 World Cup]
APR 2, 202517 MIN
Sign InDamian Fitzpatrick