From high ticket prices to questions about how the games are used by authoritarian leaders to bolster nationalism, the World Cup coming to town raises questions about the organization running the event. FIFA has also been dogged by scandal over host country selection and TV marketing rights. 

But, it's the World Cup – probably the biggest sporting event of all – and one that is so fun to watch. 

So how do we relate to a game that is both beautiful and run by an entity as complicated as FIFA?

Guest:

Jules Boykoff, professor of Political Science at Pacific University and the author of the forthcoming book Red Card:The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine

Relevant Links:

Red Card: An excerpt from Jules Boykoff's new book on the 2026 FIFA World Cup 

Jules Boykoff’s ‘Kicking’ Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted

‘Green card for the planet’? Fifa’s World Cup is on pace to be a climate catastrophe

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

From high ticket prices to questions about how the games are used by authoritarian leaders to bolster nationalism, the World Cup coming to town raises questions about the organization running the event. FIFA has also been dogged by scandal over host country selection and TV marketing rights.&nbsp;
But, it's the World Cup &ndash; probably the biggest sporting event of all &ndash; and one that is so fun to watch.&nbsp;
So how do we relate to a game that is both beautiful and run by an entity as complicated as FIFA?
Guest:
Jules Boykoff, professor of Political Science at Pacific University and the author of the forthcoming book Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine
Relevant Links:
<a href="https://www.sportspolitika.news/p/red-card-jules-boykoff-fifa-sports-politics-trump-infantino-world-cup">Red Card: An excerpt from Jules Boykoff's new book on the 2026 FIFA World Cup </a>
<a href="https://defector.com/jules-boykoffs-kicking-is-clear-eyed-and-warm-hearted">Jules Boykoff&rsquo;s &lsquo;Kicking&rsquo; Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/17/world-cup-climate-change">&lsquo;Green card for the planet&rsquo;? Fifa&rsquo;s World Cup is on pace to be a climate catastrophe</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

How do soccer fans relate to a game that is both beautiful and run by an entity as complicated as FIFA