Sportswashing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup w/ The University of Auckland’s Luke Bird: 6 October, 2025
Description
Over the last few months, concerns have been raised over the hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Particularly, concerns over human rights in the country, VISA worries, and accusations of sportswashing have been increasingly levied towards the country.
The relative lack of coverage of these concerns, comparatively to concerns over the previous tournament in Qatar, or those in the future in countries like Saudi Arabia, complicate the history that Football and FIFA have with questionable regimes and funding. Despite Trump Administration Policies that seem to threaten the tournament, there continues to be a lack of noise around whether or not the Three host countries should be reduced to two, removing the US.
Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Auckland, Luke Bird, about this Sportwashing, its background, and why the US and countries like Qatar are treated differently.
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