The Athletic FC Podcast
The World Cup and War
Published: 3 May 2026 at 05:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
This summer's World Cup in North America is the biggest in size and scale and now, arguably, the most controversial. The tournament kicks off in less than 40 days. Co-hosts USA remain at war with Iran, with fellow Middle East participants and historic allies drawn into the conflict - and FIFA caught in the middle. Travel bans, political protests and fears over ICE guarantee a turbulent countdown.
This special episode of The Athletic FC hears from players, coaches, fans, regional experts and human rights advocates on the geopolitical backdrop to World Cup 2026.
Presenter: Adam Leventhal
Producer: Paul Iliffe
Audio from: AP, BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, FIFA, England Records, beIN, C-SPAN
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