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;

The Brief In

Trump's World Cup 2026: Why we're still excited despite everything

Is Syria finally having its accountability moment?
 

In this episode of The Brief In, we examine Syria’s fragile and deeply contested transitional justice process after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

The episode examines Syria’s transitional justice process, the Atef Najib trial and wider questions of accountability.

Is Syria finally having its accountability moment, or is it witnessing the performance of justice?

In this episode of The Brief In, we examine Syria’s fragile and deeply contested transitional justice process after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, focusing on the high-profile trials of former regime figures accused of torture, repression, killings and crimes that helped define one of the most brutal chapters in modern Middle Eastern history.

Is Syria finally having its accountability moment? &nbsp;
In this episode of&nbsp;The Brief In, we examine Syria&rsquo;s fragile and deeply contested transitional justice process after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
The episode examines Syria&rsquo;s transitional justice process, the Atef Najib trial and wider questions of accountability.
Is Syria finally having its accountability moment, or is it witnessing the performance of justice?
In this episode of&nbsp;The Brief In, we examine Syria&rsquo;s fragile and deeply contested transitional justice process after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, focusing on the high-profile trials of former regime figures accused of torture, repression, killings and crimes that helped define one of the most brutal chapters in modern Middle Eastern history.

Will Syria's trials of Assad era war criminals bring real justice?

As a fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon approaches its 17 May deadline, uncertainty is mounting over what comes next. Agreed in mid-April and extended to allow negotiations, the truce has been repeatedly violated, with continued Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks raising fears of renewed war. In this episode of The Brief In, we unpack the competing pressures shaping Lebanon’s next move: US and regional demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israeli insistence on security guarantees, and deep internal divisions in Beirut that have stalled a unified negotiating position. With over a million displaced and parts of southern Lebanon devastated, the stakes are existential. Can diplomacy hold, or is escalation inevitable? And what would the collapse of the ceasefire mean for Lebanon’s sovereignty, economy, and regional position in an already widening Middle East conflict?

As a fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon approaches its 17 May deadline, uncertainty is mounting over what comes next. Agreed in mid-April and extended to allow negotiations, the truce has been repeatedly violated, with continued Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks raising fears of renewed war. In this episode of The Brief In, we unpack the competing pressures shaping Lebanon&rsquo;s next move: US and regional demands for Hezbollah&rsquo;s disarmament, Israeli insistence on security guarantees, and deep internal divisions in Beirut that have stalled a unified negotiating position. With over a million displaced and parts of southern Lebanon devastated, the stakes are existential. Can diplomacy hold, or is escalation inevitable? And what would the collapse of the ceasefire mean for Lebanon&rsquo;s sovereignty, economy, and regional position in an already widening Middle East conflict?

What next for Lebanon if ceasefire with Israel expires on 17 May?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/4171c864-f073-46ad-bd6a-b25f00d40f42/clips/dce46f81-9e7a-4b74-ac66-b43c017a095e/transcript

Journalists from Middle East focused newsroom The New Arab unpack the questions surrounding the US-Iran ceasefire. Is Lebanon still included after Israel's deadly assault on 'Black Wednesday'? What will the sides discuss in Islamabad on Friday? Did Donald Trump get his ego trip and secure a win against Iran? With guest appearance from Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, to tell us where the U.S. stands strategically as the war is halted for at least the next two weeks.

Journalists from Middle East focused newsroom The New Arab unpack the questions surrounding the US-Iran ceasefire. Is Lebanon still included after Israel's deadly assault on 'Black Wednesday'? What will the sides discuss in Islamabad on Friday? Did Donald Trump get his ego trip and secure a win against Iran? With guest appearance from Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, to tell us where the U.S. stands strategically as the war is halted for at least the next two weeks.

US-Iran ceasefire: The real deal or a Trump smokescreen? With guest appearance from Jeffrey Sachs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/4171c864-f073-46ad-bd6a-b25f00d40f42/clips/3a09d709-57b4-49dd-b589-b428010d15a6/transcript

Trump's World Cup 2026: Why we're still excited despite everything

The Brief In

In 1 playlist(s)

The Brief In

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips