On Thursday 07 May, Reach welcomed football fans, clients and partners to The Brotherhood, Manchester for an exclusive live panel event marking the upcoming World Cup.

Set against the backdrop of one of the world’s biggest sporting occasions, the evening brought together leading voices from across the game to examine the stories, players and tactical battles that will dominate next summer. As advertisers begin to shape their plans for 2026, the event showcased how Reach’s scale, insight and editorial authority will help brands be part of the cultural conversation from qualification to the final whistle.

With the World Cup set to expand to 48 teams and take place across the USA, Canada and Mexico, fan engagement is expected to reach new heights. All Out Football has been developed to help brands cut through that global excitement—offering end-to-end opportunities across our national and regional titles, fan-first video, on-platform innovation, and large-scale content partnerships.

A Panel of Pros: Tactics, Talent and Tournament Talk

The centrepiece of the evening was our live football panel, an energetic, insightful discussion featuring some of the most respected voices in the game.

VIP Guest, Andy Cole, Man Utd legend, brought a wealth of first-hand tournament experience. He shared unique insights into the mentality of elite players on the world stage, the pressure of representing England, and the dynamics that define a successful campaign.

Hosted by Reach’s Client Strategy Director, Monica Majumdar and two leading journalists from The Mirror, each with deep expertise across domestic and international football:

• John Cross – Chief Football Writer
• Andy Dunn – Chief Sports Writer

Together, the panel explored the teams to watch, the tactical evolutions shaping modern tournament football, and the emerging players tipped to make an impact in 2026 and also discussed the cultural significance of the expanded World Cup format – and what it means for fans in the UK and beyond.

The discussion reinforced Reach’s position at the heart of football storytelling, underlining the editorial depth and analysis our audiences rely on, and the scale advertisers can tap into.

A Tournament of Opportunity: How Reach Connects Brands to Fans

The World Cup is more than a sporting event – it’s a cultural moment that unites communities, drives conversation and commands attention across platforms. Reach is uniquely placed to help brands be part of that moment through trusted journalism, fan-driven storytelling and rich advertising solutions.

Thank you to all who joined us for an incredible evening. You can see more from the event on LinkedIn.

Don’t sit on the sidelines. Reach out to discuss how your brand can partner with us for the biggest sporting event on the planet.