Will the World Cup rip-off pay off?
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What off-field issues are highlighted on the eve of the World Cup?
The Athletic FC. Hi there and welcome to The Athletic FC podcast with me, Adam Leventhal. So we are one day out from the start of the World Cup and today we're going to be getting into how the tournament's success will be judged on and off the field. Joining me in the studio in London is Jay Harris. How are you? I'm all good. How are you? Yeah, I'm good. I'm excited. I'm excited. Matt Slater is with us as well. How's your emotion check at the moment, Matt?
Yeah, it's good. I'm fine. I'm very excited and ready to go.
Excellent. Yeah, he's heading out to America very soon. Already there and living there is Adam Crafton in New York. How are you?
I'm good. I feel like we've played a World Cup before the World Cup's even started. I've heard that. Awkward.
Yeah, we haven't paced ourselves, have we? But we are ready to go. So it is the eve of the tournament. And I'm going to ask you a question.
What does that mean? It means that, in theory, the biggest show on earth is about to take place over the next six weeks. The good part of a World Cup means... it brings everybody together you're gonna you know sort of forge connections with people you've maybe not spoken to in a long time if the country you support goes really deep into the competition you're going to learn things about different countries you're going to be normally it'd be watching random games in the middle of the day now you're going to be watching random games in the middle of the night i'm already plotting which games i should and shouldn't stay up for but principally it should be excitement for six weeks but i'm not entirely convinced that's going to be the case
Adam, what else does the eve of the tournament mean?
Gianni speaks. Yes. Oh. Is that it?
Yes, that is the correct answer. Gianni Infantino is going to be speaking later on today, ahead of the tournament. And Matt, you would usually be going toe-to-toe with him. You've done it over the years. One question. What would you want to ask him today if you were going head-to-head with him?
Wow. One question. God, he hasn't done one for three years. So there's a few. Don't forget the last one he did of these specific ones, as in the eve of the World Cup, was the infamous hour-long Today I Feel monologue. Yeah. I think I would ask about this relationship with Trump and the Peace Prize and has it all been worth it? I try and think of sort of a way to kind of frame, you know, you have gone as far as anyone has ever gone in terms of sport, of cozying up to a leader. And, you know, you kind of explained or your people explained for you the reasons to do it in that, you know, an organizer of a tournament has to have a good relationship with the host government. Has it worked out? What have you got for it?
Okay, so that's why. I mean, Adam, you've been writing about this in The Athletic today, about that relationship between Trump and Infantino. Would you hone in on that and try and call him out on that?
I'm not sure I would because I think I know exactly what his answer would be to that, which is essentially, you know, President Trump's been a great support. We're going to have a safe and secure tournament, all of that sort of stuff. Only because I've heard him answer it. I've sort of heard him at so many of these conferences now where he sort of has this stock response. I would probably ask him about this. the Somali referee. And his whole motive, his strapline is football unites the world. Football brings the world together. But you have a football tournament being held where one of your own people, one of your own referees from Somalia is not able to enter the country. And where fans from Well, at least four countries, nationals of four countries are facing travel bans.
So how do you square that? How do you possibly continue to say this is a tournament that unites the world? It just doesn't make sense.
That's a much better question.
Yeah, but look, you know, you might be sitting side by side and you might have to ask a different question each. Good cop, bad cop. Let's get stuck into that story that has obviously been a big focus for a lot of people.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What off-field issues are highlighted on the eve of the World Cup?
0:02–5:47
2
Why was Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry and what are the implications?
5:47–16:35
3
How have US visa and border policies shaped World Cup access for teams and officials?
16:35–23:15
4
How could geopolitical tensions—especially US–Iran—affect teams, fans and stadium safety?
23:15–26:54
5
What does Gianni Infantino's role and messaging reveal about FIFA's accountability?
26:54–33:53
6
What single factor will define this World Cup—sporting action, transport, or commercialization?
33:53–37:41
7
Why was Kansas City building a $25.8m modular jail for the World Cup and is it ready?
37:41–42:57
8
What would success look like for Mexico, Canada and the USA as co-hosts?
42:57–44:20
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from The Athletic FC Podcast
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