Shew! Daffodils just pips it but thats only because I think Arg might win and I'm trying to force a draw.

My team’s in this one and everything needs votes! (I do not care if you vote for my team, just want to help get the numbers up)

Back home, they'll be thinking about POLLS - it's Day 7 of the POP WORLD CUP #PWC26 When these teams last took the field, 5 out of 6 games were draws. Will any break through? docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... CPV v URU (H) ESP v KSA (H) IRN v BEL (G) EGY v NZL (G) SEN v NOR (I) FRA v IRQ (I)

This one’s lagging in votes so I’m boosting it for anyone who might have missed it - spend some of your Saturday in the company of international pop stars!

Very impressed by the quality of play here, force and finesse all round! Austria just take it but this is the most I've been tempted to give a bonus that would cancel out my vote

Gotta say that I misjudged the Norwegian entry on the cover - it seemed like it was going to be jazzy or similar but I actually liked it a lot more than I’d assumed. Baaba Maal will take some beating overall in the lists, he is a proper superstar, but I may vote Norway just this once.

This England track is an absolute banger, and my #1 favourite single of all time ❤️ Sub Focus & Rudimental ft. Chronixx & Maverick Sabre - Trouble (2017) "Don't care about the struggle, just free your mind, don't be about the trouble, seize your time..." VOTE ENGLAND please 🙏

1996 or 2006 for the summer pop poll... 30 years of Britpop or 20 of Blog Rock...?

These are going to be winding up tomorrow afternoon/evening so add your vote while you can!

Intrigued to see what happens in the dead rubber games in Group E. Everyone should just play the (free jazz) kids imo

time to repeat my Ray-necdote then, I guess twitter.com/lokpolokpo1/...

True jelcore is unleashed now, Swedes getting mashed next

shocking results both (derogatory)

The brooding Croatian synthwave track I’ve selected to compete in this international music tournament is running behind a far peppier song from Panama- I’d love to get some gloomy music-loving folks to give it a listen and maybe a vote so the match can be a bit closer- a draw would be most welcome!

For anyone wanting to know the most bonuses on other days - D1: Gaye Su Akyol v Thelma Plum D2: Deena Abdelwahed v Tove Styrke D3: Shahrokh v The Beths D4: Hijack v nipplepeople D5: Aseul v Sayuri & Sopholov

Once again, huge respect to our Paraguayan opponents. I really dig that Ross tune. I would have voted for it in any other match up!

Heyooo guess what country is the first to get to 6 points!

weird, I was thinking the same thing at the start (and then forgot about it)

#PWC26 DAY 6 RESULTS! TUR v PAR: TURKEY Win (65%) An ebullient, free-scoring game but Ross never seriously threatened Eftalya Yagci's lead USA v AUS: AUSTRALIA Win (63.2%) Natalie Imbruglia pulled Australia back into the tournament with this gritty win against Brigitte Calls Me Baby

Let's have the HALF TIME SCORES (no bonuses considered) AUT v ARG: Argentina lead JOR V ALG: Algeria lead GHA v ENG: Level at H-T CRO v PAN: Panama lead POR v UZB: Level at H-T COL v COD: DR Congo lead

Vote for an Austrian microhouse earworm at the Pop World Cup! 🇦🇹

the 🇯🇴player is a surprise, but ultimately provides just a bouquet of kicks and not much more. think I will go old-school for once. this 🇩🇿Zohra kicks serious ass - not to mention her percussionist and her string section. I think you’ll find they call her Lady Bump!

the JOR v ALG match is a great advert for the whole sport, this is proper end to end stuff with two completely different styles on display, ALG score early but the Jordanese play is relentless and mesmerising and they've got the staying power to pull off a surprise win

Was fully expecting Ghana to romp home here, but somehow England have eked out the win in what is a very entertaining game (sorry Amaarae).

If you've enjoyed the sounds of Zohra or Bob Destiny, you might want to check out Habibi Funk, as both have featured in their comps (015 and 007 respectively) For the duration of this Bandcamp Friday, they are donating the profits from their digital sales to support the displaced people of Lebanon

Last call for votes in these! Closing them in about 90 minutes

30 polls of hurt never stopped us dreaming - it's Day 8 of the POP WORLD CUP #PWC26 Finishing off the second week of matches with another dozen tunes. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... AUT v ARG JOR v ALG GHA v ENG CRO v PAN POR v UZB COL v COD Let's vote!

It takes a lot to get past Amaarae's fearsome defence but in the surprise of the day the plucky Brits manage to tease out a last minute win

The problem I have with this is that winning songs might not have won because they're good, but because the other song was rubbish. Or there might have been political reasons. As a manager I'd like to do some managing!

first half of this day was one of the sunniest peoples pop playlists i’ve listened to

A great opportunity for some #PWC26 ADMIN! Qualification from the groups works exactly like the FIFA tournament - the top 2 countries in each group go through, and the 8 best third-place countries, so 32 of the 48 countries qualify. Each of them will send 2 songs through to the next stage

I know that Ligue Une de Pop doesn’t have the greatest reputation, but there’s real quality at the top of the table

We have a lot of respect for Colombia so playing our star here: Theodora is the form of her life, having just spent a record-breaking 27 weeks at the top of the French Pop Ligue, so DRC management were delighted that @yetanothernick.bsky.social signed her for the Leopards before the French could

Olá! Batida and Mayra absolutely charmed me when scouting, just the vibes you want at the heart of your team. Hoping they can glide a goal in here ... (Am very impressed by the Uzbek mystical prog verse/ chirpy sing-along on the bus chorus tactics - a formidable opposition)

I am fascinated by this Uzbek song, I honestly thought it was a Pink Floyd cover for like 45 seconds at first.

I knew we’d be up against it with this strong Congo line up but I’m confident the lads can regroup after this difficult start and get us that crucial point that we need. Vamos!

This has been a really strong group and Toumba was another player I was worried about having to face. Magical control and pace, leaving the Algerian side hypnotised and helpless.

(This England track is an absolute banger but nevertheless) VOTE GHANA please

Algeria is such a well organised side, but every time they go for the ball Toubma somehow ghosts past them. Jordan with a win.

hi! just decided to nominate Yalla because I do listen to them a lot (when you somehow get obsessed with Soviet pop they’re a group you’ll run into) and this is probably their most popular song, written about a city they happened to be playing in.

UZB 🇺🇿 manager here. We’re facing elegant opponents in this crunch game, taking nothing for granted. But trust our mix of the traditional and modern technology (well, modern for early 80s) gets us a result. @starclusterr.bsky.social will hopefully pop up to explain our formation better than I can.

I can’t believe that a picture of two mannequins copped an adult content warning but here we are!

having taken hard losses, both sides try different tactics here; the Yanks use a tried and true formation but with a young squad who can't quite make it their own. the Aussies just bring back a striker from their Golden Generation. youcan't fault them for going with what works.

Senegal bring on their talisman and he's on mighty form here, this is thunderous stuff. Norwegian cosmic disco is a good antidote to the route one Scandipop on offer elsewhere, but these guys have historically not been as good at writing songs as they are sparkling bangers and that holds here

Don’t forget to vote in these, which will be ending tomorrow afternoon I would imagine

oooh did I inform you popball aficionados that there’s a wonderful remix by Henrik Schwarz of “Fulani Rock”, a 🇩🇪Deutsch-Senegalesische🇸🇳 Freundschaft if you will? youtu.be/AKPmphwKzDM?...

An addictively rhythmic Congolese track to round out another bang tidy day of music. I'm just loving this whole process, honestly.

It's the Uzbeki Fleetwood Mac and I prefer it to most Fleetwood Mac.

It's difficult to know what to make of this game, such are the contrasting styles. Egypt seem four at first but there's a smoky longeur that captivates. Whenever NZ get the ball their game feels flimsy, like a Scout camp football match. They'll probably win but I'm going Egypt here