The 2026 FIFA World Cup – the greatest football show on earth – is just around the corner.
It all starts with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the famous Azteca (now known as the Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June (8pm UK).
Co-hosted by USA and Canada, this will be the 23rd World Cup, the inaugural tournament back in 1930.
As we build up to the summer’s football fest, we take a look at the Spurs players to feature on the greatest stage of all…
Chris Waddle, Glenn Hoddle, Peter Shilton and Gary Stevens train at the 1986 World Cup
Glenn Hoddle, Gary Stevens, Chris Waddle
Four years after the finals in Spain, it was a very different story for Glenn Hoddle in Mexico.
This time, England boss Bobby Robson identified Hoddle’s talents and he was an integral part of their passage to the quarter-finals.
Glenn played every minute of England’s campaign which was dramatic at almost every turn. From the opening game defeat to Portugal, followed by a 0-0 draw against Morocco, through to the fabulous 3-0 wins over Poland and Paraguay and then the classic 2-1 reverse to Argentina – Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal followed by his genius winner. As the final whistle blew in front of 114,580 fans at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and Argentina marched on, so the curtain came down on Hoddle’s World Cup playing career.
He did, of course, lead England into World Cup 1998 as manager and guided the country to the second round, only to once again fall foul of Argentina, this time in a penalty shoot-out defeat.
One of our all-time greats, Glenn came through the youth system, made his debut in 1975 and lit up the Lane for the next 12 years, making 490 appearances in all competitions. The maestro lifted the FA Cup in 1981, 1982 – scoring in both – and UEFA Cup in 1984. He left for Monaco in 1987 with a highlights reel few could match. After his spell as England boss, he returned as Spurs manager between 2001-2003.
Chris featured in four matches in Mexico – he started the opening group games against Portugal and Morocco but then on the bench for the crunch game against Poland, where future Spur Gary Lineker scored a hat-trick. The winger came on after 79 minutes of that game, missed Paraguay and then came off the bench again as England fought in vein to come from 2-0 down against Argentina – a late rally saw Lineker pull one back and then go close, but it stayed 2-1.
Chris made 179 appearances for us between 1985-1989 – a £4.5m switch to Marseille made his the third most expensive player in the world at that time behind Maradona and Ruud Gullit.
Versatile midfielder Gary came off the bench against Morocco and Paraguay, two of his seven caps. Signed from Brighton in 1983, Gary made 200 appearances for us and won the UEFA Cup in 1984 before departing for Portsmouth in 1990.
Glenn Hoddle challenged by Ricardo Giusti – England vs Argentina, 1986 World Cup
Pat Jennings
The best goalkeeper in the world in his pomp, it was apt that the great Pat Jennings featured in two World Cups in the most illustrious era of Northern Irish football.
Pat played his first World Cup qualifier in 1964 – the same year he joined us from Watford – and had first featured in six qualifying campaigns before finally making his appearance on the biggest stage of all when Northern Ireland booked their place at the 1982 tournament in Spain. On Arsenal’s books at the time, Pat played in all four matches as Billy Bingham’s side reached the second round, causing one of the upsets of the competition as they beat hosts Spain 1-0 in the first group stage.
Pat Jennings vs Brazil at the 1986 World Cup – left, grabs the ball as the great Socrates approaches, right, safe hands as always!
Having lost his place in goal at Highbury midway through the 1984/85 season, Pat was on the verge of retiring but he didn’t hang up his gloves since he remained first choice internationally and the 1986 World Cup was fast approaching.
He returned to Spurs during the 1985/86 campaign, primarily to keep fit and headed to Mexico at the end of the season with a Northern Ireland squad hoping to emulate their achievements from four years earlier.
That was always going to be a challenge having been drawn alongside Brazil, Spain and Algeria in Group D, made even more difficult after they drew their first game 1-1 with Algeria. Jennings started the game, making him our oldest-ever player to feature at a World Cup aged 40, and although Norman Whiteside scored early they couldn’t hold on to it, which meant they had to beat the two world superpowers if they were to progress.
Against Spain in Guadalajara, Northern Ireland conceded twice in the opening 18 minutes to virtually seal their fate, and although Colin Clarke scored a minute after the interval, they were unable to turn their fortunes around and lost 2-1.
Five days later in the same city, Pat celebrated his 41st birthday with a showdown against Brazil, but the South Americans were not in the mood to shower him with gifts. Instead, they peppered his goal with a barrage of shots as they inflicted a 3-0 defeat, a stunning 35-yard rocket from defender Josimar that flew through the Mexican air the pick of the goals.
That proved to be Pat’s last-ever competitive game as he officially announced his retirement, having served his country on 119 occasions, a then world record.
A Spurs icon, Club Ambassador and still working as a goalkeeping consultant in the Academy at Hotspur Way, Pat won the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup in his 13 years at Spurs, making 590 appearances – third in our all-time list.
Pat Jennings at the 1986 World Cup