WEDNESDAY 15 JULY 2026 - LOS ANGELES - 40 years ago at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, within the Estadio Azteca, Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the quarter final. That day, Diego Maradona delivered the haunting Hand of God to illegally punch the ball over England Goalkeeper Peter Shilton CBE. A decade ago at a dinner of the Southern Amateur League, Peter recalled the experience for us. Some say that Maradona's so-called Hand of God cheated England out of a place in the 198

MONDAY 01 JUNE 2026 - LONDON - So last weekend I caught up on the ticket prices for the World Cup as it now looks like I can be there this month after chairing the 2026 ICAEW Webinar on Sport. Rather than kicking off with the usual spreadsheet of people, places and dates like I did for WAFCON in Morocco last year, this time I was shocked on sight as FIFA appeared to be advertising tickets up to USD 5.75m - for one match! Admittedly, my cousin has expensive taste and it was S