James Morrison
12 years covering elite-level football and the betting markets that shape it.
About James Morrison
James leads the editorial team at FIFA World Cup Betting. He spent six years on the football desk at the Daily Telegraph and four years writing the long-form match preview column at Total Football before moving full-time into independent betting analysis. He's covered three World Cups, two European Championships, and two Copa América tournaments on the ground.
He specialises in tournament-format analysis, identifying mis-priced knockout markets, and the long-tail third-placed-team scenarios introduced by the 2026 expansion.
Recent articles by James Morrison
Mohamed Salah Hamstring Injury: Egypt’s 2026 World Cup Talisman in Doubt
Mohamed Salah suffered a hamstring injury in Liverpool's win over Crystal Palace and is racing the clock to…
Germany Push Squad Announcement to 21 May to Buy Time on Injuries
Julian Nagelsmann was due to name Germany's 2026 World Cup squad in Frankfurt on 12 May. He has…
Xavi Simons ACL Rupture Ends Netherlands’ 2026 World Cup Plans
Tottenham playmaker Xavi Simons has ruptured the ACL in his right knee at Wolves and will miss the…
Hugo Ekitike Out of the 2026 World Cup with Ruptured Achilles
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the Champions League…
Geography and the Group Stage: How FIFA’s East–Central–West Regional Clusters Work
FIFA has split the 2026 group stage into three regional clusters — East, Central and West — to…
Four First-Timers: Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan and Jordan at the 2026 World Cup
The 48-team format has handed first-ever World Cup berths to Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan and Jordan. Here is…
Saudi Arabia in Group H: Hervé Renard, the 2022 Argentina Shock, and Why History Is Hard to Repeat
Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina at Qatar 2022. Four years later, Hervé Renard is still in charge, Salem Al-Dawsari…
How James Morrison works
Every article on this page is written and edited by James Morrison in line with our editorial policy. We test sportsbooks with real money, never accept payment for placement, and disclose every affiliate relationship with the rel="sponsored" attribute on the relevant link.
Found a factual error? Email editor@fifaworldcupbetting.com and we'll correct it within 24 hours.
Latest from the newsroom
The June Warm-Up Window: Every Friendly That Matters Before the 2026 World Cup
Between 1 and 10 June, every World Cup contender plays at least one warm-up. Here is the consolidated calendar — England, Portugal, France, Spain and Germany all have meaningful tests before the tournament opens at Estadio Azteca on 11 June.
Read story →Portugal vs Nigeria, 10 June: The Last Warm-Up Test for Roberto Martínez’s Side
Portugal will face Nigeria on 10 June as their final pre-tournament friendly — one day before the World Cup opener and 17 days before they kick off Group K. The match doubles as a fitness test for Cristiano Ronaldo and a chance to settle the tactical front three.
Read story →PSG 5-4 Bayern Munich: How a Champions League Semi-Final Reshaped the World Cup Player Pool
PSG's 5-4 first-leg win at Parc des Princes was the most goal-heavy Champions League semi-final since 2017 — and it reshaped the World Cup player pool. Hakimi's hamstring, Mbappé's sharpness, and the Bavarian core preparing for Germany's 21 May squad reveal.
Read story →FIFA Squad Deadlines Clarified: 11 May Provisional, 1 June Final
FIFA has clarified the squad submission window for the 2026 World Cup. Provisional 35-to-55-man lists are due 11 May; final 23-to-26-man rosters are due 1 June, with the public announcement landing the same day.
Read story →Champions League Final 30 May at Puskás Aréna: How Budapest Collides With World Cup Squad Day
The 2026 Champions League final is on 30 May at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest — the same week federations are submitting their final 26-man World Cup squads. The clash forces awkward selection calls for England, France, Germany and Spain.
Read story →England’s Warm-Up Friendlies: New Zealand in Tampa, Costa Rica in Orlando
England will play their first World Cup warm-up against New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on 6 June, then Costa Rica at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on 10 June. The Florida double-header lets Tuchel's side acclimatise to summer heat before the tournament opener.
Read story →