Politics, power and money have always been part of international sporting competitions, and football (or soccer) is no exception. However, this year’s World Cup faces new challenges. The United States is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, and its relationship with its neighbours has at times been rocky. Two countries at war with each other – the US and Iran – have never played in the same competition before. Some fans are anxious about travelling to games at a time of high tension. And the cost of attending the event has led some to ask whether this World Cup is really worth it.Mehreen Khan, economics editor of The Times of London and a lifelong fan of the sport, joins us to discuss what this World Cup could mean for a divided world.Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Aron KellerExecutive producer: James ShieldMix: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: FIFA World Cup on display in Toronto. Credit: Kevin Sousa/ Imagn Images
Podzilla Summary coming soon
Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Listen to This Episode
Get summaries like this every morning.
Free AI-powered recaps of The Global Story and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.