As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions

Soundside · May 18, 2026 · 16m

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…