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With two games remaining, the final whistle is set to blow on the 2026 World Cup.
According to FIFA, its global showpiece was an unprecedented success, bringing in record-breaking revenues, (some) sold-out stadiums, and produced some heartwarming stories like debutants Cape Verde’s journey to the knockout stage of the tournament. 4.6 million fans from over 210 countries attended group stage matches, surpassing the all-time attendance record of 3.5 million set at the 1994 World Cup.
Yet beyond the record crowds and moments of collective joy, the World Cup leaves behind a legacy of erasure, exclusion, and political interference. From fans and officials being denied entry into the United States, ICE arrests taking place out of sight from stadiums, and questions about FIFA’s integrity and judicial independence, it is clear that the World Cup will leave behind a fraught and complicated legacy.
To better understand the World Cup’s long shadow, I spoke to Jules Boykoff, the acclaimed author of several books on football and the Olympic Games, including his most recent book Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the FIFA Greed Machine. Jules is a former professional and Olympic soccer player, an international expert in sports politics, and a professor of political science at Pacific University who teaches on politics and dissent. He is also one of my favourite people at the intersection of sports and politics.
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