As the US marks its semiquincentennial in the summer of 2026, the celebrations will be loud, choreographed, and drenched in symbolism. In 2026, Bangladesh and Benin won’t dominate headlines, but they will tell us where the world is heading — quietly, and sooner than we think. Roy Keane’s appearance on the ‘Late Late Toy Show 2025’ was a high point for the anticipated festive special. In 2026, the question won’t be whether the ban works — it won’t, entirely — but whether Europe follows. Picture: Kin Cheung/APAt just 18, Lamine Yamal arrives at the 2026 World Cup carrying a weight Spanish football knows all too well: Expectation.

Source: Irish Examiner December 31, 2025 22:09 UTC