Mirv

ESTC 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
@saints1890 🔻🏉
🍊 ⚽️

[England @England]

John Stones 🕺😂

The energy in the changing room last night 🔥

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

@CraigHope_DM 🔔 end

[ITV Football @itvfootball]

What a moment! 😍

Jude Bellingham singing along to Wonderwall as the England fans serenade the team 🎵

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

33-32

[Skyrugby @sky_rugby]

🤣

[Athers @Athers83]

CJ Hamilton with a THUNDERBASTARD for Blackpool today #BFC #UTMP

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

@TommyWAFC @yicker Smith and Walter’s aren’t injured they’re suspended for being grubs

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

Xg in league one 🤣🤣 The games fucking gone

[Wycombe Wanderers @wwfcofficial]

Michael Duff gives his post Blackpool thoughts ⬇️

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

@LiamSmiths7 @AaronBower Is no one talking about how good little wire are 🥲🥲🥲

[Peter Moore @PeterMooreUSA]

This has been weighing heavily on me, and I can’t stay quiet about it any longer.

I am 71 years old. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend five World Cups, starting in 1986. Those tournaments weren’t just events to me, they were life chapters. They were about connection, about culture, about standing shoulder to shoulder with people from every corner of the world, united by the game we love.

But what I’m seeing now breaks my heart.

The current dynamic pricing strategy for the upcoming World Cup feels completely detached from the very soul of football. Yes, this tournament is being played mostly in the United States, and yes, it’s a premium market. But football was never meant to be a luxury product reserved for the highest bidder. It belongs to the people. Always has. I looked back fondly at USA 94 and everything we did then to fill stadiums and bring the game to life for Americans who were just dipping their toes into the water of the beautiful game.

Right now, it feels like the average, passionate supporter, the ones who save for years, who travel across continents, who bring the color, the noise, the spirit, are being pushed out. Replaced by a model that prioritizes revenue over reality.
That’s a dangerous road because once you lose the authentic fan, you lose the essence of what makes the World Cup special.

I say this not just as a fan, but as someone who has spent a lifetime in and around the game. During my time at EA SPORTS, we stood shoulder to shoulder with FIFA when they needed it most. Our game kept millions of fans connected to football and to the World Cup when trust in the organization was at its lowest. We helped carry the flame.

Which is why this moment feels even more disappointing.

This may well be one of the last World Cups I have the chance to attend and I find myself wondering if the game I’ve loved all my life is slowly drifting away from people like me, and far more importantly, from the next generation who deserve to feel what I felt in 1986.

The World Cup should unite the world. Not divide it by price.

Football deserves better. And so do the fans. Come on @FIFAcom , sort this out… It’s not too late.

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

@SuperLeague @Betfred You’ve got the product , don’t let short sightedness ruin the game .

[Betfred Super League @SuperLeague]

What did we just witness?! 🤯

Rivals Round Hits Different 😅

#SuperLeague

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

💩

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🍊

[Sky Bet League One @SkyBetLeagueOne]

A HUGE late winner for @BlackpoolFC! 🍊

#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueOne

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

Follow Saints away 🇫🇷 🇪🇸

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

Doing it tough with the injuries, but all showing up for each other and grinding it out . Some team 👌

[St.Helens R.F.C. @Saints1890]

Percy, we love ya. 🥰

Get that team song sung!

Fuelled by @POWERADE
// Official hydration partner of the Saints 💧

#COYS

[Mirv @matthew_irving]

Blokes a prick

[John Davidson @johnnyddavidson]

Classic Wayne Bennett presser. The man is undefeated 😂

[George Wincott @george_wincott]

My phone is barely operational after that, but worth it for some great scenes.

🍊 #UTMP

[Paul Rogers @PaulRogers73]

And we kept it UK