It’s never happened before. But then there’s never been a World Cup played in November and December before – and it’s only because of the extreme heat in Qatar during the traditional closed season that the event has been moved.
But the long and the short of it is that the fans of London’s six Premier League clubs are going to have to survive for a whole month without seeing their teams in action. Sure, they might see some of the players turning out for their respective countries, but there’s no getting around the fact that it’s going to be a drought for domestic soccer.
And yes, there will be plenty of World Cup matches to catch on the TV or at any of the big screens and other venues around the capital, but it’s hard to get too excited about a clash like Qatar v Ecuador or Japan v Costa Rica.
So maybe fans might find themselves in search of alternative entertainment, in which case here are three great suggestions.
Watch some Women’s Super League
It was always going to happen. But it was the Lionesses’ incredible victory in the summer’s Euros that really catapulted women’s football into the spotlight. Now you’ll even find match reports on the sports pages, unheard of until quite recently.
We’ll have to wait for 2023 before the Women’s FIFA World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand. But there’s a chance to see some Women’s Super League action in the capital while the men are battling it out in Qatar. For example, on 20th November Chelsea take on Spurs at Stamford Bridge. Then Spurs are back in action on 11th December at the BreyerGroup Stadium, the famous home of Leyton Orient.
Seek out a football-themed slots game
Of course, the entertainment aspect of football spreads its net far and wide in terms of other forms of merchandising. Soyou’ll find the beautiful game represented everywhere from board games like Subbuteo to slots in online casinos. When it comes to the latter, there are usually several new titles launched to coincide with any major event like the World Cup, and this year’s tournament is no exception.
So it’s well worth having a look around to see if any of the new football-themed games take your fancy. You’ll also discover that there’s a Premier League level of competition between the different online operators to attract new players so most also offer some pretty generous welcome bonuses too. Check this comparison site to learn more about these offers and how they work with the various online slot sites.
Turn out for the Rugby Autumn Internationals
For football fans who also appreciate the oval-balled version of the game, there’s another treat in store in the form of the Autumn Internationals season.
Two particularly mouth-watering encounters stand out, both at the massive 82,000-capacity Twickenham Stadium. On 19th November England meet New Zealand, and a week later the opposition are the mighty South Africa.
So, hopefully, these will be more than enough to see you through till the domestic Premier League season kicks off again on Boxing Day – and wouldn’t it make for the best Christmas ever if England could have returned from Qatar as World Cup winners too?
