Dockers Derby Delivers and England Squad Drama Simmers on Football Weekly's Road to 2026

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup may be dominating the headlines, but as the latest episode of The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast demonstrated, the beating heart of English football still pounds loudest on matchdays in the EFL. Host Max Rushden was joined by Barry Glendenning, George Elek and Sanny Rudravajhala for a typically spirited edition that swung from the raw intensity of derby day in the docklands to the simmering uncertainty enveloping the England camp. First on the agenda was the Dockers derby, and the panel were in unanimous agreement: it delivered. Gritty, feisty and unapologetically old-school, the fixture encapsulated everything that makes football outside the Premier League so compelling. George Elek, the show's resident lower-league enthusiast, guided listeners through the weekend's key storylines across the Championship, League One and League Two, where promotion races are tightening and relegation battles are beginning to bite. For neutral supporters dreaming of fairy-tale runs and underdog resilience, the EFL remains the gift that keeps on giving. But it was the England segment that will resonate longest with Three Lions supporters. With Thomas Tuchel's squad in a state of upheaval, the panel dissected the selection headaches, withdrawals and fitness concerns threatening to unsettle preparations for next summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Barry Glendenning brought his trademark wit to the debate, while Sanny Rudravajhala offered a measured assessment of the mood inside the camp, where competition for places has never been fiercer. The central question posed was one every England fan is asking: can the Three Lions convert their enviable depth into tournament success? The panel explored whether players thriving in the EFL can force their way into international contention, and how Tuchel balances proven performers against in-form outsiders as the clock ticks toward June 2026. With qualification secured and friendlies now serving as auditions, every call-up carries added weight. Rushden and company captured the peculiar tension of this phase of the cycle: the thrill of a World Cup on the horizon colliding with the anxiety of unfinished selection business. For supporters of both the national team and clubs further down the pyramid, the episode was a timely reminder of football's layered appeal — and a preview of the storylines set to dominate the months ahead. Source: Guardian Football, Football Weekly.