Trump’s Colosseum

For years, Trump has used UFC appearances to burnish his image and drown out scandal. Now, as war with Iran drags on with no end in sight, he’s once…

Apr 12 • Karim Zidan

22

3

4

March 2026

Sports Politika is 3 years old

What comes next?

Mar 30 • Karim Zidan

16

7

3

I won

and I'm just as surprised as you are...

Mar 18 • Karim Zidan

48

17

4

The UFC White House event is propaganda— just not good propaganda

Donald Trump promised that June’s event would bring us some of the greatest fights in history. Naturally, he lied.

Mar 14 • Karim Zidan

21

6

4

Out with the ICE Barbie, In with the Cagefighter

After firing Kristi Noem from her role as Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump nominated a former MMA fighter to replace her. Is anyone actually…

Mar 7 • Karim Zidan

21

1

5

Bread, Circuses, and Regime Change

From the pitch to the cage, major sports institutions have helped recast Donald Trump as a “peace president”—even as the bombs keep falling.

Mar 1 • Karim Zidan

19

5

February 2026

In The Shadow of the Cage shortlisted for prize

My debut book has been shortlisted for the 2026 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize.

Feb 20 • Karim Zidan

30

13

3

The Coach Trying to Heal Bosnia’s Wounds

Ahead of a pair of crucial World Cup qualifiers, Nadan Hadzic writes about football's role in Bosnia Herzegovina—a country still healing from the wounds…

Feb 14 • Nadan Hadzic

26

4

8

Inside Dana White and TKO’s Lobbying Effort to Reshape Boxing

Ari Emanuel, Dana White, and their allies are cashing in their lobbying chips as they seek to gain support for the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival…

Feb 12 • Seán O’Reilly

20

3

7

January 2026

The Empty Threat of a World Cup Boycott

Boycotts demand backbone, moral clarity, and a willingness to absorb real costs. European leaders have shown, time and again, that they possess none of…

Jan 28 • Karim Zidan

30

4

8

"In my country, I suffer injustice"

In Morocco, football has emerged as a battleground between political aspirations and popular dreams.

Jan 20 • Karim Zidan

24

1

6

African Football and the Long Shadow of Empire

Once a force for decolonization and African pride, the continent's crowning jewel of football—the AFCON—is increasingly beholden to local autocrats and…

Jan 9 • Karim Zidan

25

4