With the 2026 FIFA World Cup lurking around the corner, it’s promising to be a hot summer full of football. The anticipation for the beautiful game has slowly started to take over society all around the globe and here in The Netherlands, you’ll be noticing grocery shops giving out random football related goodies willy nilly as streets are being covered in orange bunting and other equally as brightly coloured decorations while more and more people are strolling around in their replica kit of the Dutch national team. For me – from a work perspective that is – it meant I got asked to whip up a playlist full of UK-tailored football music. You might wonder what that exactly entails. Well, there’s a little more to it than the iconic ‘Three Lions (It’s Coming Home)‘, New Order’s unconventional collaboration with the England national squad of 1990 on ‘World in Motion‘, or perhaps even most cult of all, Fat Les’ ‘Vindaloo‘. Alongside the humorous (and often surprisingly successful) attempts of securing themselves a number 1 spot, a fair amount of British artists are household names in many football stadiums across the country. Some teams adapt their own band or anthem (e.g. Liverpool FC plays Gerry and the Pacemakers’ version of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ while Kasabian are life-long supporters of Leicester City FC) while other songs are just very popular amongst football fans. Often, they’re not that special and are commonly enjoyed amongst people everywhere (AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ or Depeche Mode’s ‘I Just Can’t Get Enough’) but for some reason, those are amongst songs you will always here when you visit a ground in the UK. Guaranteed. Songs that are a bit less common will be the more UK-focused songs by bands like Kaiser Chiefs or The Courteeners and, for some older fans, stuff by The Stone Roses or Happy Mondays. Overall, a good football stadium anthem often encompasses an upbeat and recognisable classic hit with a heaped teaspoon of British culture stirred through its musical veins. Such is The Jam’s ‘Town Called Malice’. A recipe for a sweltering summer full of music and footie.