The most political World Cup ever?
June 15, 2026
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The World Cup unites billions of people every four years. But it also serves as a stage for debates over identity, nationalism, and political power.
In this episode of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper explores how the tournament became far more than a soccer competition. From debates over immigration and national identity to FIFA's immense power and lack of accountability, the World Cup has become a stage where politics and sport are impossible to separate.
Yet despite the politics, controversy, and commercialization, the World Cup remains one of the few events capable of captivating entire countries and bringing billions of people together. The result is a tournament that reveals as much about the world we live in as it does about the sport itself.
Every week on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, Ian explains the key global stories of the moment, sits down for an in-depth conversation with the newsmakers and thought leaders shaping our world.
Watch GZERO World on US public television and on GZERO's YouTube channel. GZERO WORLD with Ian Bremmer is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS.
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