James Bennett

No Show: The World Cup Teams That Never Were is out now with @pitchpublishing

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MEGA-THREAD

It's international break time, and key 2026 World Cup qualifiers are taking place which will go a long way to telling us which teams will make the finals ⬇️

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

Absolutely loved being on this! Thanks so much for having me on

[Graham Dunn @SaidandDunn]

This week @CouchPundito and myself are joined by @JBennettWriter on @byfargreatestfc #football #podcast for another #WorldCup special - with a difference - as we look back on the French national side that somehow didn't qualify for the USA 1994

https://t.co/736H3Wt8iY

[Graham Dunn @SaidandDunn]

This French side is one of the 24 teams that never made it to a World Cup covered by James in his book No Show - and this was great fun unpicking quite how a team with Cantona in his pomp failed to make it to the World Cup - and a few thoughts on what could have been

[Graham Dunn @SaidandDunn]

This week @CouchPundito and myself are joined by @JBennettWriter on @byfargreatestfc #football #podcast for another #WorldCup special - with a difference - as we look back on the French national side that somehow didn't qualify for the USA 1994

https://t.co/736H3Wt8iY

[Mark Orton @MarkAOrton]

Looking forward to chatting about all things World Cup with @JBennettWriter and @RhysWRichards at Cardiff Library on 11 June

[Football Heritage @footyheritage]

Our World Cup 2026 content programme is here.

From now until July 23, the content we release on our podcast, articles and Patreon exclusive feed will be centred on the World Cup.

As well as covering the history and heritage of the tournament, we've also explored themes of resistance, resilience and identity during this content programme.

This is one of the most politically charged World Cup tournaments in history. Tragically, not everyone will be able to attend to support their nation. Some people may end up detained or worse.

However, there is still a lot of joy to be found through this tournament, and diaspora communities will have a huge role to play in bringing that joy to the World Cup.

We hope you enjoy the content we've created for this tournament.

We kick things off today with our usual Monday podcast. Thank you to all the fantastic contributors who have taken part in this.

The World Cup is just around the corner. Let's go 🏆

[Pitch Publishing 📚 Sports Books @PitchPublishing]

⚠️ Ten days to go until it all kicks off…

📺 Watch our brand new World Cup ad, voiced by the legendary Jonathan Pearce.

🏆 If you like what you see you can buy these books from all good bookshops or from Pitch’s Amazon store via the link on the thread below.

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

@TaylorColumnist Thank you!

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

You can watch the rest of my interview on CNN World Sport tonight at 10:30 UK time, talking about George Best, Eric Cantona and others! https://t.co/snTaen1BxT

[Mark Orton @MarkAOrton]

It was a pleasure to chat with @PaulHawksbee and @BakersTweet on @talkSPORT this afternoon about my new book From Moore to Messi from @PitchPublishing
🔗 https://t.co/wpa5wnSB3t

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

Catch me in action with my latest event at Cardiff Central Library on Thursday 11 June at 17:45, just a few hours before the World Cup kicks off in Mexico! I may also have another special guest lined up too

Please sign up to let us know if you're coming: https://t.co/V7thP1lJbU

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

@3LionsPodcast @PaulDennis1234 @PitchPublishing @TheSixtySixHQ Congratulations Paul! Enjoy the book

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

Italy had the best squad in the 1990s and won nothing. That probably transitions to France for the 2000s, except Brazil in 2006. Early 2010s it's Spain, before moving back to France in the mid-2010s. Every tournament for the last 10 years, France has had the most talented squad

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

This is objectively true. France have won three major tournaments in my lifetime. They should have at least double that, and they were fortunate to win the ones they did

[Jan @janhopi]

every year there is a team at the World Cup who have obviously the best players, and most years they don't win it. often that team is also France.

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

@janhopi In awe of the responses to this objectively correct take lol

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

Go win a copy of my book!

[3lionspodcast @3LionsPodcast]

COMPETITION TIME - As I mentioned in the recent pod, I have 6 books to give away thanks to @PitchPublishing & @TheSixtySixHQ.

First is 'No Show' by @JBennettWriter.

Just the simple Like/Share/Comment across social media, winner announced evening of 25th May.
UK only I'm afraid.

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

Anyone know why UEFA used the Star Wars theme as walk-on music for the Cup Winners Cup and how long for?

[3lionspodcast @3LionsPodcast]

Recently I had the pleasure of joining @PitchPublishing at @TheVolleyLondon, where they showcased 6 new World Cup books, join me as I chat with authors, including @ThatWorldCupFan, England Legend @realpaulparker2, @TaylorColumnist & @samindrakunti
https://t.co/ICPkIeFyDx

[The Martyrs @MerthyrTownFC]

📺🤷‍♂️

#OurTownOurClub | #WeAreMerthyr

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

@BlogEFI Hi there. Is there an email address that I can contact you with?

[James Bennett @JBennettWriter]

@SaidandDunn Hi Graham. Is there an email address that I can contact you with?