World Cup: FIFA, Corruption, and Empire

In this episode, we explore the U.S./FIFA corruption that has riddled the 2026 World Cup: from predatory ticket pricing to the racist exclusion of fans from Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world; from the introduction of “hydration” advertising breaks to the “Americanization” of the game.

We examine the horrific treatment of the Iranian national team, who were forced to compete as the American rulers actively carried out terror on their home country, and who faced relentless interrogation and isolation while their families were barred from entering.

A follow-up to our fourth episode, “Race, Class, and the Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game,” this episode dissects some of the dirty, colonial history of FIFA, showing how politics and sports are structurally integrated. The consequence is a tournament in which bribery and cronyism have become so blatant that Trump can get a red-card suspension overturned for an American player.

Football is a deep passion for billions around the globe. For many working-class and poor people, it is an escape from the daily drudgery they endure under capitalist rule. The capricious venality and imperial arrogance of the U.S. and FIFA, the contemptuous disregard for the fans who form the backbone of the sport, all threaten to unravel the beautiful game.

This episode honors the athletes who showed up, improvised, and delivered profound moments of pride in the game despite oppressive conditions they did not choose.