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Chunkz, Niko Omilana and Angry Ginge are helping shape the next generation of World Cup fandom, according to a new study from UA92.
The inaugural ‘UA92 World Cup Influence Index’ reveals a Starting XI of football’s most prominent voices aged 30 and under, with YouTuber and presenter Chunkz named the single most influential.
Ahead of England’s first game of the 2026 World Cup, UA92 academics developed the Index to track the growing influence of football content creators and personalities aged 30 and under. It reflects a wider shift in football media, where match reaction, tactical debate, fan culture and behind-the-scenes entertainment now play out across platforms rather than through traditional outlets alone.
Together, the personalities in our Starting XI command a combined social audience of 63.5 million followers, close to the size of the UK population.
To build the ranking we measured audience reach, engagement, video views and cultural impact, or what we call “Heat”. Heat accounted for 30 per cent of the final score, capturing how much fans talk about, share and emotionally connect with a personality.
Spencer Fearn, once the youngest owner of a British football club and now a lecturer and course leader at UA92, said: “The personalities in our Starting XI have built audiences that would have been unimaginable in football media a decade ago. The findings show how a new generation of fans now follows football differently, consuming content from creators, streamers and social media personalities before, during and after the game.
“Understanding how audiences think, feel and engage with content has become a multi-million-pound skill, supporting hundreds of jobs across every professional football club.
“Whether it’s marketing, accountancy, data science, broadcasting, coaching, production or content creation, it takes far more than 11 players to ‘Make the Game’. That’s a reality we’ve built into our courses from the start.”
The findings come as we launch our new Football Broadcast and Journalism BA (Hons) degree, designed to equip students with the skills needed to succeed across football media. It follows the launch of our Business of Football BSc (Hons) degree last September.
Developed by media professionals with experience across BBC Sport, ITV, Channel 4 and CNN, the course combines practical learning with real-world industry insight. Students also gain work placement opportunities and industry connections through partners including Salford City FC, Manchester United and Lancashire Cricket Club.
Phil Jones, Senior Lecturer in Media, said, “Football has never been bigger, and the media landscape around it is broadening all the time. This is creating more ways than ever for young people to build a career in football broadcasting.
“This new era brings together the traditional crafts of commentating, punditry and article writing with content creation, digital media and technology. To thrive in it, students need an array of skills, and that is exactly what our Football Broadcast and Journalism course is built to deliver, equipping them with the technical nous a future career demands.”
Inside the Starting XI
Chunkz tops the rankings after building a 14.2 million-strong audience through football content, celebrity interviews and viral entertainment videos that resonate with younger fans.
Niko Omilana ranks a close second, combining football content with viral stunts and mainstream entertainment to build a following of more than 12.5 million.
Manchester United fan Angry Ginge comes third after a meteoric rise fuelled by viral content, creator matches and mainstream TV appearances. While not the biggest account in the rankings, his cultural impact score of 4.53 out of 5 surged thanks to a profile that now reaches well beyond football content.
Matchday creator Thogden ranks fourth on the back of his fan-first coverage from stadiums around the world and one of the highest engagement rates in the Index at 29.27 per cent.
W2S and Behzinga also make the side. As part of YouTube group The Sidemen, they have helped popularise creator football through viral content, charity matches and collaborations watched by millions. They are joined by ChrisMD, whose football challenges, trick shots and collaborations with professional players have earned him a loyal following. Danny Aarons and Sharky complete the outfield places.
The study also highlights the growing influence of women’s football, with England internationals Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo both making the team.
View the full starting XI of UA92’s Influence Index
