Parents discover screen-free way to keep football-mad kids happy during England’s World Cup run

As England prepare to take on Norway in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, football fever is reaching new heights across the UK. While families will be cheering on the Three Lions, many parents are also facing a challenge, with several matches taking place in North America and kicking off long after younger fans have gone to bed. That's where Yoto's football card collection comes in, helping children stay connected to the beautiful game beyond match day.

That's where Yoto's football cards could be a brilliant way to keep the excitement alive for children who can't stay up to watch every game. Yoto has teamed up with the popular Ultimate Football Heroes series to create audio cards that allow children to learn about some of the biggest names in football through engaging stories and facts. Two collections currently on my son's wishlist are:

Ultimate Football Heroes: England Men's Team Collection £24.99, this collection includes five cards featuring some of England's biggest stars, including Jude Bellingham and my son's favourite player, Cole Palmer. For young England supporters, these cards offer a fun way to learn more about the players they'll be cheering on during the World Cup.

Ultimate Football Heroes: Men's Global Icons Collection £24.99 for five cards, this set focuses on some of football's biggest international stars, including Erling Haaland and Virgil van Dijk. For children who love football beyond the England squad, this collection introduces some of the world's most recognisable players.

One of the things I particularly like about these Yoto cards is how they can help younger football fans stay connected to the tournament, even when they can't watch live games.

Instead of staying up past bedtime, children can listen to stories about their favourite players, learn more about the teams taking part, and fuel their football passion in a screen-free way. As a parent, that's a much easier sell than trying to explain why a match kicking off at 1am isn't suitable for a primary school child.

For young football fans who already enjoy their Yoto Player, these collections look like a fantastic way to combine a love of football with storytelling and learning. And with stars like Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland and Virgil van Dijk featured, there's plenty to keep football-mad kids entertained while they count down to the next big match.

If your household is already catching World Cup 2026 fever, these football-themed Yoto cards could be well worth adding to the wish list.

Natalie Dixon is our Lifestyle reporter, if you liked this article and want to read more about fashion, beauty and lifestyle you can follow Natalie Dixon on X here.

^{This article was produced with the support of AI tools to assist in sourcing and structuring information. All content has been reviewed, verified and completed by a journalist prior to publication.}