With England’s World Cup group stage kicking off on Wednesday, The LEGO Group is launching something a little different for young fans. The Build-Up is a brand-new limited live-stream YouTube series designed to help families channel the excitement ahead of every England FIFA World Cup group-stage match this June. Hosted by Manny Brown and featuring a line-up of football-loving guests including Harry Aikines, Harry Pinero and England Lioness Lauren Hemp MBE, the livestreams will air ahead of each England group game, combining their hot-takes, match predictions, LEGO® challenges and audience participation in one hour of pre-match entertainment. Learn more below.
The LEGO Group launches new limited live-stream series ‘The Build Up’ during the FIFA World Cup™
New series, which features famous faces, gives families a fun way to channel after-school excitement and avoid pre-match madness ahead of England’s FIFA World Cup™ group games
The LEGO Group announces ‘The Build-Up’: a series of one-hour-long YouTube livestreams ahead of each England group match from 6pm-7pm on 17th, 23rd and 27th June.
Hosted by Manny Brown and joined by football-loving guests Harry Aikines, Harry Pinero and England Lioness Lauren Hemp MBE, the show mixes live football chat, LEGO® challenges and audience interaction.
The livestreams will air on Manny’s YouTube channel and create football content for the younger generation to bridge the gap between home time and bedtime ahead of the late kick-offs
As part of the LEGO Group’s wider FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign, the show features the LEGO® Editions FIFA World Cup™ Official Trophy and LEGO® Editions Football sets.
London, UK – 13 June: Today, the LEGO Group announces, ‘The Build-Up’, a live, interactive YouTube show airing ahead of each of England’s group-stage games at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Designed for the football-obsessed, the show transforms the agonising wait between the school run and match kick-off into a creative, football-fuelled celebration.
Streaming live from 6pm on 17th, 23rd and 27th June, each episode of ‘The Build-Up’ will see host Manny Brown joined by a special football-loving guest for a packed hour of live football commentary, match predictions, LEGO® challenges and real-time audience interaction – the perfect pre-match warm-up for young football fans.
Manny and his guests will react to team news, provide match predictions, take on themed LEGO challenges and share plenty of hot takes throughout the tournament. Designed with interactive family viewing in mind, streamers can take part in challenges, suggest builds, vote on predictions and weigh in on the big debates throughout each show.
An All-Star Line-Up
Each episode will feature a different guest, bringing their own insights and personality:
- 17th June: Harry Aikines – TV personality and presenter, former England sprinter and lifelong football fan, who said: “As a dad myself, featuring in ‘The Build-Up’ with the LEGO Group felt like a perfect fit from the moment I heard about it. It gives families the chance to bond over a shared passion for football and get creative before kick-off.”
- 23rd June: Harry Pinero – one of the UK’s most loved digital entertainers and hosts, known for his quick wit and serious ‘ball knowledge’ as a lifelong Manchester United fan, is excited to team up with his good friend, saying “The Build-Up is exactly what the football fans want – fun and full of hot takes. Manny and I together and talking football? Guaranteed fun. I’m looking forward to proving I’ve got the better takes.”
- 27th June: Lauren Hemp MBE – England Lionesses and Manchester City forward, and two-time UEFA Women’s EURO winner, who is also a self-confessed LEGO bricks superfan, is thrilled to take part as “Anyone who knows me knows how much I love LEGO sets, so being involved in something that brings that together with football means a lot. Football is at its best when it’s fun and inclusive, and that’s exactly what this is all about. I can’t wait for this summer of football!”
‘The Build-Up’ is part of the LEGO Group’s wider FIFA World Cup 2026™ programme, celebrating football as a source of play, creativity and connection for young fans and families worldwide. The show will showcase two sets, the LEGO Editions Football, a true 1:1 scale replica match ball featuring a hidden stadium celebration scene inside, and the LEGO Editions FIFA World Cup™ Official Trophy, a breathtaking 2,842-piece replica with more gold bricks than any other set in the LEGO product range.
Live-stream details:
‘The Build-Up’ streams live on Manny Brown’s YouTube channel at 6pm on:
- 17th June, ahead of England v Croatia 9pm (Group L)
- 23rd June, ahead of England v Ghana 9pm (Group L)
- 27th June, ahead of England v Panama 10pm (Group L)
