The World Cup of 1998 – Groups A–D

The World Cup of 1998 kicks off with Groups A–D, taking us straight back to one of the most iconic years of the late 90s.

From the chaos of England vs Argentina and everything that came with it, to peak TV moments with Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen, this episode is packed with the kind of memories that instantly transport you back.

We relive the shock of Geri leaving the Spice Girls, the glory of Arsenal winning the double, and the cultural impact of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels — all while Alright Fans casually drops in one of his own personal milestones from 1998 that probably should’ve stayed private.

This is what the World Cup of 1998 is all about — football, music, film, TV and real-life moments all colliding into one ridiculous, nostalgia-heavy tournament.

As always, the criteria is loose. Impact, nostalgia, cultural relevance and pure “I remember exactly where I was” factor all come into play as we try to decide what truly defines the year.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament — big moments, bigger memories, and constant debates over what really mattered most.

Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where the nostalgia only gets deeper.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People
• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases
• The World Cup of 2025
• The World Cup of Liquids
• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion
• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)
• The World Cup of Special Days
• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows
• The World Cup of Insults
• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If this one didn’t take you straight back, nothing will — the rest of 1998 is waiting on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON

The World Cup of Shit Jobs – Groups A–D

The World Cup of Shit Jobs gets underway with Groups A–D, shining a light on the roles people either avoid at all costs… or find themselves stuck explaining at parties.

From the emotional weight of an undertaker to the grim reality of a portaloo cleaner, from the thankless existence of a traffic warden to the relentless hustle of a looky looky man, this tournament covers jobs that test patience, dignity, sanity — or all three at once.

We also get into roles that come with power but just as much pressure, like being Prime Minister, alongside jobs that are physically and mentally draining, such as slaughterhouse work. Some are difficult, some are misunderstood, and some just feel like there’s no upside whatsoever.

As always, the criteria is up for debate. Pay, stress, public perception, working conditions and pure “I couldn’t do that” factor all come into play as we try to decide what truly makes a job terrible.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament — honest, uncomfortable at times, but full of opinions everyone secretly has.

Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where the full debates and inevitable disagreements live.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People
• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases
• The World Cup of 2025
• The World Cup of Liquids
• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion
• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)
• The World Cup of Special Days
• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows
• The World Cup of Insults
• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If this one made you feel better about your own job… the rest of the debate is waiting on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON

The World Cup of Holiday Nightmares gets underway with Groups A–D, as we’re joined by special guest James Gardner (@comedyjames) to relive the kinds of trips that go spectacularly wrong.

From getting hit with sun stroke on day one to full-blown blazing rows that derail the entire holiday, from being caught up in natural disasters to somehow ending up locked in a brothel, this tournament brings together the absolute worst-case scenarios of going away.

What starts as a break quickly turns into something you’ll be telling stories about for the rest of your life — missed flights, dodgy food, arguments that escalate out of nowhere, and situations you genuinely couldn’t make up.

As always, the criteria is loose and the stories are doing most of the work. Severity, chaos, recoverability and pure “how has this happened?” all come into play as we try to decide what truly is the ultimate holiday nightmare.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament — big stories, bigger opinions, and a strong reminder that sometimes it’s just better to stay at home.

Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where things somehow get even worse.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People

• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases

• The World Cup of 2025

• The World Cup of Liquids

• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion

• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)

• The World Cup of Special Days

• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows

• The World Cup of Insults

• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If this episode made you rethink your next trip, the rest of the nightmares are waiting on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON

Top 40 Acts of Straightness is a completely tongue-in-cheek countdown of the most stereotypically “straight bloke” habits, behaviours and cultural clichés imaginable.

From the obvious to the absurd, this episode dives headfirst into the kind of things that have long been joked about as peak straight energy — delivered with heavy doses of irony, exaggeration and old-school banter.

It’s not trying to define anyone, explain anyone, or make any grand cultural statement. The whole point is the ridiculousness of the stereotypes themselves.

Think of it as a playful look at the clichés people have laughed about for years — beers, barbecues, questionable fashion choices, unnecessary competitiveness and the strange logic that sits behind them.

Take it exactly as intended: knowingly silly, slightly nostalgic, and absolutely not that deep.

The World Cup of Wastes of Money gets underway with Groups A–D, taking a brutally honest look at the things people pour money into… only to later wonder why.

From modern absurdities like AI girlfriends and endless streaming subscriptions like DAZN, to old-school drains on the wallet such as cigarettes and gambling, this tournament asks a very simple question: what actually deserves the title of the ultimate waste of money?

Along the way we get into global talking points like Visit Rwanda sponsorships, massive government spending projects like NASA, and the most destructive expenditure of all — war. Some entries are personal vices, some are cultural debates, and others are things society keeps paying for despite knowing exactly how expensive they are.

As always, the criteria is loose and the arguments escalate quickly. Cost, value, impact and sheer frustration all come into play as we try to separate guilty pleasures from things that genuinely feel like money disappearing into thin air.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament — strong opinions, uncomfortable truths, and a lot of financial regret.

Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where the full debates and inevitable arguments live.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People

• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases

• The World Cup of 2025

• The World Cup of Liquids

• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion

• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)

• The World Cup of Special Days

• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows

• The World Cup of Insults

• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If this episode made you rethink where your money goes, the rest of the arguments are waiting on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON

The World Cup of Johns kicks off with Groups A–D, celebrating the remarkable (and occasionally ridiculous) number of famous figures who happen to share one of the most common names in the English-speaking world.

From the chaos and comedy of Johnny Knoxville, the broadcasting legend of John McCririck, and the musical legacy of Johnny Rotten, to cultural icons like John F. Kennedy, football favourite John Barnes, and wrestling megastar John Cena — this tournament proves that the name John has punched well above its weight across sport, politics, entertainment and beyond.

Along the way we dive into the worlds of John Anderson, Pete Davidson’s alter-ego John Davidson, and plenty more Johns who’ve left their mark in completely different ways.

As always, the criteria is flexible at best. Impact, legacy, recognisability, and pure “John energy” all come into play as the debates quickly spiral and the arguments get heated.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament — big names, big opinions, and a surprisingly deep bench of Johns.

Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where the full debates and inevitable disagreements live.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People

• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases

• The World Cup of 2025

• The World Cup of Liquids

• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion

• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)

• The World Cup of Special Days

• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows

• The World Cup of Insults

• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If you thought there were a lot of Johns before, wait until the rest of the draw unfolds on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON

The World Cup of the Letter D gets underway with Groups A–D, where anything — and everything — beginning with “D” is thrown into the tournament and judged far more seriously than it has any right to be.

From Dogs and Dinosaurs to Dragons and Dubai, from cultural icons like Diana, Princess of Wales and David Beckham, to topics that immediately derail the conversation like Drugs and Dildos, this one covers an absurdly wide spectrum.

As ever, we argue over impact, legacy, usefulness, cultural weight and pure chaos. Some entries feel like automatic winners, others spark debates no one saw coming, and consistency disappears almost instantly.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament — full groups, big opinions, and a letter doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where the full debates and inevitable arguments live.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People

• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases

• The World Cup of 2025

• The World Cup of Liquids

• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion

• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)

• The World Cup of Special Days

• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows

• The World Cup of Insults

• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If this one made you realise how stacked the letter D actually is, the rest of the chaos is waiting on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON

The World Cup of Good Jobs kicks off with Groups A–D, celebrating the roles people secretly (or not so secretly) think are the dream.

From the pressure and prestige of an F1 Safety Car Driver and the obsession-fuelled madness of a Football Manager, to the high-risk freedom of a Professional Gambler, the responsibility of a Pilot, the controversy and curiosity around being a Porn Star, and the modern chaos of life as a YouTuber — this tournament asks one simple question: what actually makes a job “good”?

Is it money? Status? Freedom? Lifestyle? Or just the ability to tell people what you do without immediately regretting it?

As ever, the criteria is debated, bent, and occasionally ignored altogether as we weigh glamour against graft, fantasy against reality, and childhood dreams against adult stress.

This episode sets the tone for the tournament.
Groups E–H and the knockout rounds continue exclusively on Patreon, where the full arguments, deeper dives and inevitable disagreements live.

👉 patreon.com/theworldcupof

Including:

• The World Cup of Horrible People

• The World Cup of Horrible Words / Phrases

• The World Cup of 2025

• The World Cup of Liquids

• The World Cup of Forgotten Fashion

• The World Cup of Things You Don’t See (Anymore)

• The World Cup of Special Days

• The World Cup of Forgotten TV Shows

• The World Cup of Insults

• The World Cup of Hard People
  …and the full back catalogue.

🎟️ Multiple tiers
⏱️ Full-length episodes
🚫 Not listed anywhere else

If this one made you rethink your career choices, the rest of the chaos is waiting on Patreon.

🔒 ALL FULL EPISODES AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON