The limits of soft power: America’s war and its World Cup

When the US, Canada and Mexico were selected as joint hosts of the 2026 World Cup, they were supposed to be the “safe choice” for Fifa.

Football’s global governing body had been criticised for previous picks. There had been allegations of bribery and corruption. Now, the kick-off of the “safe” tournament is only days away but the Iran conflict is casting a shadow over the US as the main host nation.

President Donald Trump and his administration have made conflicting statements about the Iranian football team’s participation, at times saying they are welcome and at other times warning it would not be safe for them to attend.

Uncertainty caused by flight disruption and increased costs may also be deterring fans from attending. Travel bans, restrictive visa regulations and anti-immigration crackdowns in the US are also serving as deterrents.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at how one of the most globally unifying events is kicking off in a climate of geopolitical tension. We hear from Gregory Papanikos, president of the Athens Institute for Education and Research, and Simon Chadwick, professor of Afro-Eurasian sport at Emlyon Business School.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(499)

Replay: Who will fill the security vacuum in Gaza?

In its first report to the UN Security Council, the Board of Peace this month said Hamas’s refusal to disarm was the main obstacle to the reconstruction of Gaza. The board's leader, Nickolay Mladenov,...

29 Mai 21min

More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to?

It took the Houthis at least a month to enter the Iran conflict in late March and early April and the Yemeni rebels have been largely restrained since a Pakistan-brokered truce began last month. But t...

22 Mai 18min

Where does China stand in US-Iran conflict?

Trade ties and tariff relief were supposed to be the key issues on the agenda during US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week. But with the Iran war unresolved and the Strait of Hormuz sti...

14 Mai 14min

Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz?

US President Donald Trump has said a deal with Iran could be possible as negotiations to end the war gain momentum, again. Iran is reviewing a US proposal, which reportedly sets out limits for Tehran’...

7 Mai 22min

Making sense of Palestine’s local elections

Palestinians in Gaza have voted in an election for the first time in 20 years, some for the first time in their lives. Municipal elections took place last week across the West Bank but in only a singl...

1 Mai 17min

Can Iraq shake off the grip of foreign influence?

Iraq is in a race against time to choose a prime minister but, even after weeks of deadlock, the Co-ordination Framework – a coalition of major Iraqi Shiite parties – is still deliberating. The countr...

24 Apr 15min

Death penalty: The new threat to Palestinian detainees

Hussein Al Zweidi’s two-year detention in Israeli prisons were some of the hardest days of his life. He described a practice of physical and sexual abuse against prisoners, as well as poor conditions ...

17 Apr 20min