A week from now, the World Cup will kick off in the US, Mexico and Canada. But the warmongering, authoritarianism, and visa bans of the Trump administration threaten to make this the most controversial in recent memory. Yet there is record MENA participation, and that’s not the only positive story of the World Cup 2026. The New Arab is joined by sports content creator Salma Mashhour to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the beautiful game.

A week from now, the World Cup will kick off in the US, Mexico and Canada. But the warmongering, authoritarianism, and visa bans of the Trump administration threaten to make this the most controversial in recent memory. Yet there is record MENA participation, and that&rsquo;s not the only positive story of the World Cup 2026. The New Arab is joined by sports content creator Salma Mashhour to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the beautiful game.

The Brief In is a new regular show from The New Arab featuring our editors in an unfiltered conversation with experts unpacking the forces shaping the MENA region and beyond

 

The Brief In is a new regular show from The New Arab featuring our editors in an unfiltered conversation with experts unpacking the forces shaping the MENA region and beyond
&nbsp;