The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, despite the regular footballing calendar taking shape in a busy festive period – and fans are slowly gearing up for the big occasion.
48 nations will take to the world stage for their chance to get their hands on the famous trophy, with England hoping to do so for the first time in 60 years after their triumph at home in 1966.
However, despite being just the third edition of the tournament to introduce VAR, there will be a World Cup-first in North America this summer, with broadcasters seemingly planning to introduce television adverts during compulsory water breaks at stadiums.
And that will only remind Everton fans of a similar incident that they unwillingly went through themselves in the 2008-09 season, when Dan Gosling’s late winner in the FA Cup at Goodison Park against rivals Liverpool was missed by viewers due to an accidental advert break.
Dan Gosling celebrates his winner for Everton vs Liverpool in the FA Cup
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Everton fans missed one of their best 21st century moments due to an advertisement gaffe
With Everton’s FA Cup fourth round clash at Anfield ending in a 1-1 draw in late January 2009, it led to a replay at Goodison Park just over a week later.
The game went to extra-time, with Everton pushing for a winner over their Stanley Park neighbours deep into the additional 30 minutes, especially with Reds midfielder Lucas Leiva being sent off late into regular time.
However, fans were bamboozled when, in the final minutes of extra-time, ITV’s coverage of the game inexplicably cut to an FA Cup advert, before the screen went black for around eight seconds.
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Fans in the south of England, Wales and Northern Ireland continued with their black screens, nervously anticipating where the ball may have been.
And they were welcomed to Dan Gosling celebrating wildly with his teammates after curling the ball into the net, missing a key goal in a crunch Merseyside clash.
Viewers north of the Midlands got their pictures back just as Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde crossed for Gosling to take a couple of touches before scoring – but the unlucky ones were the recipients of missing a major moment.
Everton fans will be hoping they can avoid yet another advert mistake at the 2026 World Cup
It’s not the only time ITV produced a gaffe in their live footballing coverage.
England’s clash against the USA at the 2010 World Cup saw another advert break just moments before Steven Gerrard put the Three Lions 1-0 to the good in the opening minutes of the game in South Africa.
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The recent news that World Cup 2026 will have three-minute-long water breaks in each half to prioritise player welfare is good news, though reports have suggested that adverts will be introduced in that time.
Fans, especially ones of an England and Everton persuasion, will be hoping that it isn’t third time unlucky in America this summer on their behalf, especially if a goal is scored directly after the water break. Only time will tell if that is the case.
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