World Cup 2026: Same but different – ​​the beauty of the first World Cup with your baby

Four years ago, any attempt to watch a game together was met with the same stubborn resistance as toddlers as the suggestion of a midday nap. And suddenly, here we were, immersed in Panini exchanges, fending off a first-class French attack, pointing out the flags and insignia of all forty-eight nations. Shiny Brazil!

Of course, the way he approaches this World Cup is different from our childhood experiences, which in turn are different from our parents’ experiences. “Grandpa saw Pele at Goodison Park?” Impressive for his grandfather because he’s from Everton, and impressive for the little boy because his favorite YouTuber – Chuffsters – was awarded the 99th rated Pele Icon Card.

This isn’t a bedtime-friendly World Cup for those who live on this side of the pond – we don’t stay up late and there’s no rush to school early, with the class teacher whipping out a big TV to watch Senegal shock France.

Instead, this World Cup is about climbing into bed at first sunlight with his little brother, listing off yesterday’s matches and predicting which star player will score – a thirst that’s satiated by highlight reel packages. A hearty hit of goals before breakfast.

Waking up last Wednesday was like Christmas morning. Each clip reveals the gift of another stunning presentation. Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi scored hat-tricks! Because, despite being the same age as most of their parents, it’s still Messi who resonates with today’s kids – his shirt dotted on the pitch on a Sunday morning.

But despite everything that is different, the basic things remain the same.

Filling sticker books, writing on graffiti, opening football figures – we have two Bradley Barkula, if anyone needs? – Spend hours pretending to be Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham in the park, trying to recreate the tournament’s greatest goals. This summer we will be buying a new fence.

It’s seeing your heroes come to life on screen and falling in love with unexpected new heroes. Where can you find a Vozinha shirt?

Enjoying the game through your children’s eyes is to see it in a different light. One of the wonders and a million questions, those questions that you have not thought about for decades. It’s an experience completely ignorant of modern football’s ills, politics, ticket prices or breaks. Just the pure magic of the game, the innocent curiosity to know more about it, and the uncontrollable desire to “Siuuuuu!” Down the supermarket shopping aisles.

Football can be tribal and divisive, but at its heart it is a sport that unites, whether that’s fans from around the world embracing each other in a fan park in Mexico City or a father and his young sons huddled around a sticker book in Manchester.

Because the World Cup is a phenomenon that is transmitted across generations. My grandfather had died earlier in the tournament – ​​his last interaction with the boys was posting some English posters picked up from his weekly shop. The grief of his loss is imbued with a small, thoughtful gesture – that’s how they remember him.

Whether our young footballer will remember the tournament as well, who knows, it doesn’t really matter. Such is the glorious childhood gift of living in the moment, maybe next week it will move on to something else, and maybe we’ll chase Pokémon again. And we’ll enjoy it together too.

But for now, what a beautiful feeling it is to experience this World Cup through his wide eyes, and to appreciate this passion we share.

So, here’s to summer. For me, this is the one that will last forever.