In a move brought about by corporate America's impatience with flagging TV ratings, soccer merges with ice hockey. The synergies enabled by this co-operative fusion of two great sports allow strategic consolidation of revenue streams, mutual database enrichment and arrogant disregard of anyone who dares to stand in our way. Manchester United win inaugural Sockey World Series. The convergence of the sciences of cryogenics, genetic engineering and quantum physics allow for Germany to restage the 1966 World Cup Final and conclusively prove that the ball didn't cross the line. England lose the subsequent FIFA-mandated replay on penalties.
All empires rise and fall.
Sky TV is now the world's only superpower, having bought America from Mexico in a leveraged buy out. The Premier League is re-instated. Southampton and Coventry City narrowly avoid relegation. 2500 Stuart Pearce announces retirement. 2600 Intelligent football-playing life is discovered somewhere just outside the Horsehead Nebula.