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2026 World Cup Language 15: Results to go their way
It’s day 15 of the 2026 World Cup and on today’s World Cup language podcast we look at the phrase ‘results go their way‘. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions about the phrase or our podcast then you can contact us here.
Hello
DF: Hello everyone. This is Damian from the Learn English through Football team and I hope you are all well and enjoying the World Cup. This is day 15 of our World Cup language series – we are trying to explain a phrase or expression from the World Cup each day.
Now, I have moved from Monterrey to Mexico City where the weather is a little cooler but the altitude is a lot higher! It is a couple of days after I went to see South Africa beat South Korea in the final Group A game in Monterrey. And this win meant that the African side (Bafana Bafana) qualified for the knock-out rounds for the first time in their history and also meant that Korea would have to wait and see whether they make it as a best third-place team to qualify. I met a lot of very unhappy Korean fans indeed after the game.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (in Korean)
Results to go their way
DF: Now, I have mentioned that Korea find themselves in third place in Group A which means that they are not yet certain about whether they can qualify for the next stage of the tournament – the last 32. Remember that only the best eight third-placed teams from the twelve groups qualify for the knock-out rounds; so Korea are hoping to be one of those eight teams. They have three points but a goal difference of minus one (Damon explained this phrase yesterday). Currently they lie 6th in the third-place rankings which means they would still qualify though there are still two days left of games. This means that Korea are hoping that results go their way which means that they need some teams to not win or draw or even score a goal as this would impact their position. So, Korea are relying on other results; they are hoping that results go their way.
For example, because Sweden drew with Japan and Ecuador beat Germany yesterday, the possibility of qualifying has dropped from 90% to around 50% which is still not bad but they will be nervously waiting on results from other groups. They now hope that their results are better than at least three other groups out of the six remaining. I am sure they will be supporting Egypt to beat Iran and Belgium to defeat New Zealand in Group G, while they will also hope that Spain beats Uruguay in Group H. It will be tense for the Korean players and fans as they are relying on other teams to help them; they are hoping for results to go their way.
Out of their hands
DF: Another expression that can be used in this context is ‘out of their hands’ which means that the Koreans can do nothing about their situation – it is in the hands of others. Korea have to wait and hope as they can do nothing about their situation – it is out of their hands.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (in Spanish from Mexico)
Contact
DF: Yes, you are listening to the Learn English through Football podcast and that message was from a Mexican fan here in Mexico City and of course Mexican fans are really happy as their team has a maximum of three wins out of three – their next game looks like it will be against Ecuador after their famous win over Germany yesterday; so everyone is really excited.
Now don’t forget, if you want to get in contact with us or ask a football-language question then just come along to our site or go to our World Cup forum or you can write to us at: contact@learnenglishthroughfootball.com. And when you are visiting our site you can also check out our glossary of football terms, expressions and clichés all about the beautiful game of football.
Goodbye
DF: Thank you everyone again for listening. On today’s World Cup language show, we looked at the phrase, ‘Results go their way‘. Remember, that this phrase is used to describe the situation that teams are in when they need other results to help them qualify. Can you think of any other words or expressions, in any language, that are similar to this phrase? And if so, drop us a line and let us know.
Damon will be here again tomorrow with some more expressions from day 16 of the World Cup. Until then, bye bye.
Related Links
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- 2026 World Cup Language 14: Goal difference
- 2026 World Cup Language 13: Ends scoring goal drought
- 2026 World Cup Language 12: Shrug off
- 2026 World Cup Language 11: Thumping strike
- 2026 World Cup Language 10: Statement win
- 2026 World Cup Language 9: One-way traffic
- 2026 World Cup Language 8: Gift
- 2026 World Cup Language 7: Re-taken penalty
- 2026 World Cup Language 6: A stunner
- 2026 World Cup Language 5: Hold to a draw
- 2026 World Cup language 4: Run riot
- 2026 World Cup Language 3: Lob over the keeper
- 2026 World Cup Language 2: Brace
- 2026 World Cup Language: To be dismissed
- 2026 World Cup in numbers
- 2026 World Cup in numbers (quiz)
- 2026 World Cup favourites, dark horses and flops
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