Jacobin Radio: The World Cup’s Impact and FIFA’s Mendacity

In a jam-packed final installment of The People’s Game on Jacobin Radio, Mel and Alan speak with five distinguished guests. The feature interview is with Jules Boykoff, author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the FIFA Greed Machine. Boykoff, speaking on the day before the final between Spain and Argentina, reflects on what has defied, met, or exceeded his expectations about this year’s men’s World Cup soccer tournament. What lasting impact might the most profitable, largest, and longest major soccer tournament in history have on the global game? What does a 39-day carnival of soccer staged during a time of global and national crisis reveal about 21st-century society?

We also ask One Fair Wage organizer Saru Jayaramen, political scientist Vanessa Tyson (who played varsity soccer at Princeton), and left progressive congressional candidates Chris Rabb (PA-3) and Randy Villegas (CA-22) for their take on the tournament. Meanwhile, former UK Member of Parliament George Galloway says the corruption has gone too far, and promises to expose the depths of FIFA’s mendacity to the world.

Finally, the People’s Game’s co-hosts and co-producers — Alan Minsky, Meleiza Figueroa, and Fernando Romero — summarize their thoughts and feelings about the North American World Cup. An equal measure of triumph and disgrace? Did the excitement of so many great games once again earn FIFA a pass? Or was this the year that fans finally have had enough?

Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.