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Summary
BBC Learning English explores the excitement and controversy surrounding the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, teaching key vocabulary from real news headlines.
Passive voice — used when the focus is on what happens to the subject, not who does it. Example from the transcript: "North America is put to the test."
Present perfect for ongoing situations — formed with have/has + past participle, showing something that started in the past and is still relevant. Example: "I've been wearing my new waterproof jacket a lot lately."
Modal verb "could" for possibility — used to say something is possible but not certain. Example: "It could also be one of the most controversial ever."
Superlative structures with "ever" — used to make a strong comparison across all time. Example: "This year it's bigger than ever" and "tickets for this World Cup have been the most expensive ever."
About this video
This episode of BBC Learning English from the News focuses on the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup — the first ever hosted by three nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States) and featuring a record 48 teams across more than 104 matches. Presenters Pippa and Georgie work through three real headlines from El País, NBC, and the BBC itself, unpacking phrases like "put to the test," "at play," and "come at a cost." Along the way, they touch on concrete issues: Iran and the US being at war while Iran still competes, Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry to the US, Trump's immigration policies affecting fan attendance, and environmental concerns about teams flying between three host countries.
For shadowing practice, this episode is excellent material. Pippa and Georgie speak at a clear, measured pace with standard British accents and virtually no slang or rapid connected speech. Sentences are short, well-structured, and deliberately repeated — each headline is read aloud twice, and example sentences are given for every key phrase. This repetition makes it easy to shadow naturally.
The content is aimed at A2–B1 learners who want to build confidence with everyday news vocabulary and passive structures. A learner working through this episode will pick up three useful fixed expressions, practise the passive voice in a real context ("North America is put to the test"), and gain the confidence to read English-language sports and politics headlines independently.
Idioms & expressions
put to the test — to check whether someone or something can succeed in a challenging situation; e.g. "North America is put to the test" as the world watches if three nations can host the event.
at play — involved in or influencing the current situation, especially when several factors are at work; used in headlines like "the geopolitical tensions at play off the pitch."
come at a cost — to bring negative consequences alongside something positive; e.g. the super-sized World Cup "comes at a cost" in terms of environmental impact and exclusion of fans.
off the pitch — referring to events or issues happening outside the actual game of football; e.g. political tensions and visa disputes occurring "off the pitch."
taking part — participating or being involved in an event; e.g. "48 teams are taking part" in the World Cup.
due to — expected or scheduled to do something; e.g. "Iran is due to compete in this year's World Cup."
