Mailbag: Has the 48-team World Cup been a success? | 2026 FIFA World Cup

Ladies and gentlemen, the Carabao is back! Sadly, Tom Brady did not show the competition the respect it deserves after he spent more time worrying about his leather trousers than he did investing in Birmingham City. Disappointing. Elsewhere, Marcus, Pete and David discuss Celtic’s Champions League exit. Plus, Michael Owen hits back at his critics and a robot does its best Cristiano Ronaldo impression. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. Get your Football Ramble x Admiral kit here. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***  The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Choose the Ramble vs everyone else. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League and Champions League season, covering Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Spurs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How about that for a first Monday Night Football of the season, eh? Marcus Spellers' beautiful Cottagers took the fight to their west London neighbours but in the end it was Chelsea who, despite Robert Sánchez's best efforts, came out on top. Jim joins Marcus this morning to react to the game. Plus, is it time for big boy Penders to have a go in net? Why can't you say "bomb squad" anymore? And do we want to wish the great-grandson of a fascist dictator good luck? Get your Football Ramble x Admiral kit here. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***  The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Choose the Ramble vs everyone else. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League and Champions League season, covering Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Spurs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Premier League, Manchester United! And welcome back, Vithushan Ehantharajah… Today, Marcus and David join Vish to celebrate Hull’s eye-catching return to the top flight. Elsewhere, Marcus explains why things could be even worse for Spurs as they pick up where they left off last season. Plus, Erling Haaland’s got a new look. Get your Football Ramble x Admiral kit here. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. You can see all our predictions on our socials: find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**  The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Choose the Ramble vs everyone else. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League and Champions League season, covering Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Spurs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we cut the ribbon on the Ramble Intercontinental Senate after a much-needed summer repainting (thanks Pete). Spelgium returns to the soirée to square off against Cartalonia. Who will lay the first claim to the Biddy throne? Jimbabwe is refereeing this one. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. Join the Football Ramble FPL HERE. Or use the code: 50ewth. You can see all our predictions on our socials: find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**  The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Choose the Ramble vs everyone else. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League and Champions League season, covering Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Spurs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League is back! What’s more, lovely Frank Lampard has also returned to the fold. Marcus, Jim and David look ahead to tonight’s opening fixture and wonder if Super Frank is ready to return to the big time as a manager. Elsewhere, there’s a classic thigh rubber to start the season between Newcastle and Liverpool. Plus, dog merch has officially hit the shelves in a club shop near you. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. Join the Football Ramble FPL HERE. Or use the code: 50ewth. You can see all our predictions on our socials: find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**  The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Choose the Ramble vs everyone else. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League and Champions League season, covering Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Spurs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.