The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams span across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Everyone’s talking about the big Premier League stars, but for Ipswich Town fans and fans all over the EFL, this World Cup could actually mean something to there club, the league, and what we’re all about.
If you look at recent England squads, loads of those players started in the EFL. Ipswich has always had a part in that.
Think about Kieron Dyer or Tyrone Mings; they came through Ipswich and played for their country.
The 2026 World Cup should be the same. More teams mean more chances for players who learned their trade in the Championship.
And right now, Ipswich have a few names who could be in with a shout: Dara O’Shea for Ireland, Jack Taylor is getting close, George Hirst if he keeps improving, Chiedozie Ogbene is already playing for his country, and even Wes Burns could surprise a few people with his speed.
Other teams have their own players to watch for with the World Cup coming up, Kasey McAteer and Sammie Szmodics to name but two are catching the eye of international managers.
As fans, we should be really aware that our club matters in the big picture.
Every time an Ipswich player is on that World Cup pitch, it makes all those hours in the stands worth it, all those long trips to away games and knowing that what happens at Portman Road is huge.
Ipswich could be without some key players for weeks if they get called up, which will really test the rest of the team.
That’s going to test us fans, too.
Think of a young player getting a shot because O’Shea or Burns are at the World Cup, and then taking that chance to become a favourite. That’s pretty cool.
The World Cup is like a shop window. Players who do well in North America will suddenly be worth a lot more.
Ipswich might have some tough choices. Do we sell a player who gets attention from the Premier League after the tournament? Or do we stick to our guns and try to move up in The Championship rather than cash out?
Whatever’s going to happen, the money changes the narrative a bit, Ipswich can get some attention on the football stage to remind everyone we’re a good team.
The World Cup is actually about who we are, for Ipswich fans, to see our team on is very exciting.
Whether it’s Ogbene running down the wing for Ireland, Burns getting involved, or Szmodics getting stuck in, it’s something that can not be described with a single word.
We don’t just watch football for the trophies themselves. We watch because it connects us to something great. The 2026 World Cup will remind us of that.
World Cup 2026 isn’t just a summer tournament in some far-off place. It shows that clubs matter, like Ipswich Town.
For Ipswich fans: our club is great, our league is great! And when the world is watching, they’ll see something of what the EFL can bring to the international stage.