The summer of 2026 had arrived.
Across England, flags hung from windows.
Cars drove through the streets with England scarves tied to their mirrors.
Pubs were packed.
Children wore the shirts of their favourite players.
And everywhere Devin went, he heard the same words.
"Bring it home."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was finally here.
For Devin, this wasn't just another tournament.
This was different.
He had spent the entire season proving himself at Real Betis.
He had rejected offers from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
He had finished the La Liga season with a victory over Atlético Madrid alongside Max.
And now he was wearing the England shirt.
But he wasn't alone.
Max was there.
And so was Prince Knight.
Prince had already completed his transfer from Real Betis to Juventus. The move had been one of the biggest stories of the summer.
But despite wearing black and white in Italy, Prince still felt like family to Devin and Max.
The three had shared the Betis dressing room.
Now they were sharing an England dressing room.
And England had a serious problem.
They were expected to win.
---
THE ENGLAND DRESSING ROOM
The players sat quietly as the manager walked in.
On the wall was the England badge.
The manager looked around the room.
"You've all heard what people are saying."
Nobody moved.
"They say we're favourites."
Still silence.
"They say we're supposed to win."
The manager paused.
"They say anything less than the trophy is failure."
Devin looked down at his boots.
The manager continued.
"Forget all of that."
He walked toward the tactics board.
"We don't need to prove anything to newspapers."
He pointed at the England badge.
"We only need to prove something to ourselves."
Prince leaned toward Devin.
"He's getting us fired up."
Devin smiled.
"Good."
Max whispered.
"I'm already fired up."
Prince laughed.
The manager turned around.
"And one more thing."
Everyone looked up.
"I don't care what club you play for."
His eyes moved across the room.
"Betis."
"Juventus."
"Manchester."
"Madrid."
"London."
"Today, you're all England."
Devin felt something inside him.
He looked across the room at Max.
Then Prince.
The three nodded.
They were ready.
---
GROUP STAGE
England's first match came against a tough opponent.
The stadium was filled with blue and white lights.
Thousands of England supporters had travelled.
The players walked onto the pitch.
Devin heard the crowd.
"EN-GER-LAND!"
He looked around.
Max was on his left.
Prince was playing up front.
Devin took his position.
The referee blew the whistle.
---
08'
England immediately took control.
Prince dropped between the defenders.
A midfielder found him.
Prince held off a defender and laid the ball back.
Devin collected it.
He drove forward.
One defender came toward him.
Devin shifted the ball left.
The defender slipped.
The crowd roared.
Devin crossed.
Prince attacked the ball.
HEADER!
Saved.
Prince landed and looked at Devin.
"Good ball."
Devin nodded.
"Next one."
---
31'
Max won the ball in midfield.
He looked forward.
Devin was running.
Prince was making a run behind the centre-back.
Max picked Prince.
The pass split the defence.
Prince was through.
One-on-one.
He shot.
GOAL!
England 1–0.
Prince sprinted toward the corner.
Devin and Max followed.
Prince jumped over the advertising boards.
Devin grabbed him.
"First World Cup goal!"
Prince laughed.
"Many more."
---
76'
England scored again.
This time, Devin assisted Max.
England won 2–0.
A perfect opening.
But the tournament was only beginning.
---
THE SECOND MATCH
England's second group match was much harder.
The opposition defended deep.
Every time Devin touched the ball, two players surrounded him.
Max tried to create space.
Prince battled the centre-backs.
England couldn't break through.
The clock reached 70 minutes.
Still 0–0.
Then Devin received the ball near the halfway line.
He turned.
He saw Max.
Max pointed toward the right.
Devin passed.
Max accelerated.
He crossed.
Prince jumped.
GOAL.
England 1–0.
The three celebrated together.
Another win.
---
THE FINAL GROUP MATCH
England had already qualified.
The manager rested several players.
But Devin, Max and Prince wanted to play.
They wanted momentum.
And they got it.
England won comfortably.
Three wins.
Three clean performances.
They finished top of the group.
But the knockout stage was waiting.
And everyone knew the World Cup was about to become serious.
---
ROUND OF 16
The knockout match was tense.
One mistake could end everything.
England dominated possession.
Devin received the ball on the left.
He faced the defender.
The defender waited.
Devin stepped over the ball.
Then exploded forward.
The defender couldn't keep up.
Devin reached the box.
He cut the ball across.
Prince was waiting.
SHOT!
The goalkeeper saved it.
The rebound came out.
Max arrived.
GOAL!
1–0.
England held on.
Final whistle.
England were through.
---
QUARTER-FINAL
The quarter-final was chaos.
The opposition scored first.
England equalised.
Then they scored again.
2–1.
But with ten minutes remaining, England conceded.
2–2.
Extra time.
Both teams were exhausted.
Prince was barely able to run.
Max was breathing heavily.
Devin looked toward the bench.
The manager shouted:
"KEEP GOING!"
110th minute.
England won a free kick.
Devin stood over the ball.
He looked at the wall.
Max walked toward him.
"You scoring?"
Devin smiled.
"Obviously."
Max laughed.
Devin took the shot.
The ball curled around the wall.
The goalkeeper flew.
But it hit the crossbar.
The rebound dropped into the box.
Prince reacted first.
He smashed it into the net.
3–2!
England were going to the semi-final.
Prince ran toward Devin.
"You almost stole my goal!"
Devin laughed.
"You got the rebound."
"Still counts."
Max joined them.
"Who cares? We're in the semi."
---
SEMI-FINAL
The semi-final was the biggest match of Devin's life.
England had come this far before.
But this time felt different.
The country believed.
The stadium was shaking.
The opposition came out aggressively.
England struggled.
15 minutes.
0–0.
30 minutes.
0–0.
Then the opposition scored.
1–0.
England were behind.
Devin stood in the centre circle.
He looked at Max.
Max nodded.
"Come on."
The second half began.
England pushed forward.
Prince battled the defenders.
Max created chances.
Devin kept attacking.
60 minutes.
Still 1–0.
70 minutes.
Still 1–0.
Then Max won the ball.
He drove forward.
He passed to Devin.
Devin took one touch.
He looked up.
Prince was making a run.
Devin crossed.
Prince jumped.
GOAL!
1–1.
The stadium exploded.
Prince ran toward the corner.
Devin chased him.
Max joined them.
England were alive.
---
89'
England won a corner.
Max delivered.
The ball bounced around the box.
A defender headed it away.
It fell to Devin.
He controlled it.
One defender charged toward him.
Devin moved past him.
Another came.
Devin cut inside.
He shot.
GOAL!
2–1.
England had turned the game around.
The referee blew the whistle minutes later.
England were in the World Cup Final.
Devin stood on the pitch.
He looked toward the supporters.
The whole country was waiting.
One more game.
---
THE WORLD CUP FINAL
The final arrived.
The biggest stadium in the tournament was completely full.
The atmosphere was unbelievable.
England walked out.
Devin.
Max.
Prince Knight.
The three friends stood together during the national anthem.
Devin looked at Prince.
"You ready?"
Prince nodded.
"Born ready."
Max smiled.
"Let's win this."
The whistle blew.
---
12'
England started brightly.
Max received the ball.
He found Devin.
Devin carried it forward.
He tried to pass through the defence.
Intercepted.
The opposition counterattacked.
England recovered.
The final was already intense.
---
24'
Prince received a long pass.
He controlled it with his chest.
A defender immediately challenged him.
Prince held him off.
He turned.
SHOT!
Saved.
Prince shook his head.
Devin ran toward him.
"Keep shooting."
Prince smiled.
"I will."
---
37'
The opposition scored.
England 0–1.
The stadium went silent.
Devin stared at the scoreboard.
Max walked over.
"We've been here before."
Devin nodded.
"We know what to do."
---
HALF-TIME
England went into the dressing room behind.
Nobody spoke.
The manager entered.
He looked at every player.
"Look at me."
They looked up.
"You're forty-five minutes away from becoming champions of the world."
He paused.
"Forty-five minutes."
Devin clenched his fists.
The manager continued.
"Don't think about pressure."
"Don't think about history."
"Play."
Devin stood.
"Come on."
Max stood.
Prince stood.
The whole team followed.
---
53'
England came out completely different.
Max won the ball.
He passed to Devin.
Devin turned.
Two defenders approached.
He dribbled between them.
The crowd screamed.
Devin reached the edge of the box.
He passed across.
Prince was there.
SHOT!
GOAL!
1–1.
Prince sprinted toward the corner.
Devin followed.
Max jumped onto both of them.
England were back.
---
67'
The opposition attacked.
England defended desperately.
A shot came toward goal.
Saved.
Another shot.
Blocked.
England survived.
Then Devin received the ball.
He was exhausted.
His legs felt heavy.
But he kept running.
He passed to Max.
Max returned it.
A one-two.
Devin was through.
He shot.
Saved.
The ball bounced back.
Devin chased it.
A defender cleared it.
The crowd groaned.
Devin looked toward the sky.
Not yet.
---
82'
The score remained 1–1.
Both teams knew the next goal could decide the World Cup.
England won a corner.
Max took it.
He crossed.
The goalkeeper punched it away.
The ball went toward the edge of the box.
Devin collected it.
He crossed again.
Prince headed it.
Saved.
The rebound fell loose.
Max shot.
Blocked.
The ball bounced toward Devin again.
He tried to control it.
A defender kicked it away.
The referee checked his watch.
Five minutes remaining.
---
90+2'
England attacked again.
Max carried the ball down the right.
He looked into the box.
Prince was surrounded by two defenders.
Devin was behind him.
Max crossed.
The ball was too high.
Prince jumped.
He couldn't reach it.
The ball continued over him.
A defender headed it away.
But the clearance wasn't clean.
The ball rose into the air.
High.
Very high.
It began dropping toward the edge of the penalty area.
Devin looked at it.
Then looked at the goal.
He realised there was no time to control it.
The defender was coming.
The goalkeeper was positioned near the centre.
Max shouted.
"DEVIN!"
Devin planted his foot.
He jumped.
For a moment, his entire body left the ground.
His back faced the pitch.
His eyes stayed locked on the ball.
Then—
BANG!
Devin threw his body backward.
His right leg flew through the air.
BICYCLE KICK.
He connected perfectly.
The ball rocketed toward the top corner.
The goalkeeper jumped.
He stretched as far as he could.
But he couldn't reach it.
The ball slammed into the net.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
The stadium exploded.
ENGLAND 2–1!
Devin landed hard on the grass.
For a second, he didn't move.
Then he heard the roar.
Max sprinted toward him.
"YOU JUST DID A BICYCLE KICK!"
Devin laughed.
"I know!"
Max grabbed him and pulled him up.
Prince came running from the other side.
"You are insane!"
Devin could barely breathe.
Prince hugged him.
The England players surrounded them.
The supporters were screaming.
The opposition looked devastated.
But there was still time.
---
90+6'
The opposition had one final attack.
England dropped deep.
The ball was crossed.
Prince, despite being an attacker, had tracked all the way back.
He jumped and cleared it.
The ball went out.
The referee looked at his watch.
One final throw.
The opposition threw it forward.
England intercepted.
Max cleared the ball.
The referee lifted the whistle.
Devin stood still.
He waited.
Then—
WHISTLE!
It was over.
ENGLAND WERE WORLD CHAMPIONS.
---
THE CELEBRATION
Devin dropped to the ground.
He covered his face with both hands.
He couldn't believe it.
Max fell beside him.
Prince collapsed a few metres away.
Then the three looked at each other.
They started laughing.
They had done it.
Three teammates.
Three friends.
Three different journeys.
Devin and Max had finished the season together at Real Betis.
Prince had moved to Juventus.
But they had reunited for England.
And now they were World Cup champions.
The England captain lifted the trophy.
Confetti filled the sky.
Devin stood beside Max and Prince.
The trophy was passed around.
Prince grabbed it.
"Juventus is going to love this."
Max laughed.
"Betis too."
Devin smiled.
He looked toward the crowd.
Then at the trophy.
Then at his teammates.
A year ago, nobody knew how far he could go.
Now he had done something every footballer dreamed about.
He had won the World Cup.
And he had scored one of the greatest goals of the tournament.
A bicycle kick.
In the World Cup Final.
In the final minutes.
To win it for England.
---
AFTER THE FINAL
The celebrations lasted all night.
England supporters filled the streets.
Players danced.
Music played.
The trophy travelled through the dressing room.
Devin sat quietly for a moment.
His phone was vibrating constantly.
Messages from teammates.
Friends.
Family.
Fans.
And then his agent called.
Devin answered.
"Hello?"
His agent didn't even say hello.
"Devin."
"Yeah?"
"You have no idea what's happening."
Devin laughed.
"What?"
"Every club that contacted you before the World Cup has contacted me again."
Devin sat up.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
His agent started listing them.
"Real Madrid."
"Manchester City."
"Paris Saint-Germain."
"Bayern Munich."
"And several others."
Devin laughed.
"I already said no."
His agent went quiet.
"There's something different this time."
"What?"
"They aren't asking anymore."
Devin frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"They're willing to break transfer records."
Devin looked at the World Cup trophy sitting across the room.
He smiled.
"Tell them to wait."
"Why?"
Devin stood up.
"Because I have a season to think about."
He ended the call.
Max walked over.
"Who was that?"
"Clubs."
Max laughed.
"Again?"
"Again."
Prince walked over.
"Let me guess."
Devin nodded.
"Everybody wants you."
Prince smiled.
"Get used to it."
Devin looked at both of them.
"So what's next for you guys?"
Max shrugged.
"Back to Betis."
Prince smiled.
"Back to Juventus."
Devin looked at them.
"And me?"
Max smiled.
"Back to Betis."
Devin nodded.
He looked down at the England shirt he was wearing.
The shirt was soaked with sweat.
The badge was covered in champagne.
But Devin didn't want to change it.
Not yet.
He had just become a World Cup champion.
And somehow...
This still felt like the beginning.
---
ONE LAST LOOK
The next morning, the three friends stood outside the hotel.
Prince was carrying his bags.
Max was wearing his Betis tracksuit.
Devin had the World Cup medal around his neck.
Prince looked at Devin.
"See you soon."
Devin smiled.
"Juve?"
"Yeah."
Max laughed.
"Don't forget us when you become the biggest player in the world."
Devin shook his head.
"Never."
Prince held out his fist.
Max bumped it.
Then Devin.
Three fists together.
Three teammates.
One brotherhood.
They went their separate ways.
Prince Knight returned to Juventus.
Max returned to Real Betis.
And Devin returned to Betis as a World Cup winner.
But when Devin walked into the Betis training ground, he noticed something immediately.
The atmosphere had changed.
Everyone was looking at him.
His teammates applauded.
The manager smiled.
And on his locker was a new shirt.
His name.
DEVIN.
Below it was a handwritten message:
WELCOME HOME, WORLD CHAMPION.
Devin smiled.
He picked up the shirt.
Outside, thousands of supporters were waiting.
The next season was coming.
And so were the offers.
But Devin wasn't thinking about transfers.
Not yet.
He had another goal.
To become the greatest player Real Betis had ever seen.
And this time...
He wasn't going to stop.
TO BE CONTINUED.