The People's Game

World Cup Final: Greatest Of All Time

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 07:14:36 GMT

The World Cup final is over, and Argentina are the World Cup Champions!!!!

After 80 minutes of what looked like a rout for Argentina, France suddenly came to life with a stunning brace from Mbappe, who tied it 2-2 in just 97 seconds, sending the game into a breathtaking extra time period that brought it to 3-3 and penalties. When the dust cleared, Argentina emerged victorious in what was arguably the greatest World Cup final of all time. It was a stunning win, Argentina's third and only win since 1986, that also crowned Lionel Messi with a long-sought World Cup title and what many consider to the mantle of GOAT - Greatest Of All Time.

Fernando Orozco joins Alan Minsky and Mel Figueroa for a final recap of this mind-boggling match and the reaction of fans, commentators, and the masses of people all over the world. We discuss the inevitable comparisons between Messi and Maradona, the third-place match between Croatia and Morocco, the present and future of the new golden generations that may emerge from this tournament, and our thoughts on the political implications of the World Cup in Qatar, North America in 2026, and beyond. As FIFA's increasingly brazen corruption continues to cast a cloud over the beautiful game, we look to the work ahead and the possibilities to reclaim global football for the people, to use this unique and impactful global platform to claim the spectacle and make it truly The People's Game.

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Pre-Final Special Edition: The African Connection

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 16:20:31 GMT

On the eve of the much-anticipated World Cup final, Laurent Dubois joins us once again, this time from Dakar, Senegal where he watched the France-Morocco semifinal and will watch the France-Argentina final on Sunday. We explore the deep quotidian connections between French and African societies and football fandom, Senegal's performance sans Mane, France's current reign at the top of the game, what it was like to watch the historic match between France and Morocco in Senegal, and, of course, his thoughts on prospects for the final.

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World Cup Semifinal - Ep 22: The Horizon of Possibility

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 09:13:48 GMT

We are nearing the end of this year's World Cup quest, and the lineup for the final is set: France goes up against Argentina this Sunday for the main prize of the tournament, and a chance at a very rare twice-in-a-row world championship, last achieved by Brazil in 1962. Today's match, however, also contained a tremendous victory in and of itself, in the ascendancy of Morocco, the first African team to reach the semifinals of the World Cup in an astounding tournament run that captured the hearts, minds, and imaginations of billions of people in Africa, the Middle East, and all around the world. In this remarkable postcolonial derby against France, a team itself made up of mostly African and Arab migrants, Morocco broke the inferiority complex that has dogged underdog teams from the Global South, as well as the patronizing colonial gaze that limits the imagination in both the global core and periphery. Dominant in the second half, never breaking, pushing through injuries and battling until the final whistle, Morocco, even in defeat, expanded the horizons of possibility for oppressed and colonized peoples everywhere, and for that they have secured their place in World Cup history, and the world is forever grateful.

Lilian Thuram, the French football legend whose son Marcus Thuram's performance for France helped clinch today's victory, said in his recent book White Thinking that "we all engage with the past through the prism of extremely powerful historical and cultural forces that have shaped us in different ways," and that breaking down the colonial mindset in all of us, with an understanding of history, "can provide us with the tools to construct a shared future." Today's game between France and Morocco, with all the historical and cultural layers underlying it, has, in the words of Laurent Dubois, offered "a different way of seeing movement: not as a danger, but as possibility and freedom that makes something beautiful in the world."

Alan and Mel salute Morocco, analyze the nuances of today's exciting match, and cast our lots on opposite sides of Sunday's final showdown: will the Cup secure a generational legacy for French football, or come home to the Church of Maradona in a long-sought moment of glory for Messi and Argentina? Sunday's magisterial final will show what Fate has in store for the World Cup in 2022.

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World Cup Semifinal - Ep. 21: In the Land of Diego and Lionel

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 07:45:48 GMT

Now we know the first World Cup 2022 finalist, and it is Argentina!! Today's decisive 3-0 win over Croatia in regular time secured Argentina's place in the finals, and Lionel Messi's place in the pantheon of Argentine and World Cup greats. As the Albiceleste contest yet again for another World Cup title, not won since the triumph of Mexico 1986, we can't help but do a little compare and contrast of Messi and today's Argentinian superstars with the era of the Greatest of All Time, Diego Maradona. We discuss today's spectacular performance, evaluate Argentina's chances in the final, and look forward to tomorrow's historic and tremendous showdown between Morocco and France.

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World Cup Quarterfinal - Ep 20: The Dream and the White Whale

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 06:20:30 GMT

Today's monumental pair of matches made history in more ways than one. Morocco emerged victorious over Portugal, carrying the dream of billions in Africa, the Arab world, and across the globe as they become the first African country to make it to a World Cup semifinal. Defying the colonial gaze, Morocco has cultivated a bonafide world-class team that, with the wind of collective joy in their sails, can make it all the way. On the other side, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo goes home in tears, never having caught his white whale of a World Cup title or a knockout goal, a missing jewel in his glittering career record. Alan analyzes the Ahab-like efforts and setbacks of an England side that held its own and more against France - but for that magic moment between Griezmann and Giroud that won the game for France, and Harry Kane's tragic moment at the penalty spot, ending England's quixotic quest to bring it home.

We also pay tribute to the late great Grant Wahl, legendary soccer journalist and voice for justice and human rights, who passed away yesterday in Qatar during the Argentina-Netherlands game. He brought global football to a wide audience in the US and his influence and generosity is felt throughout the soccer world and in the hearts of everyone who knew him. He is dearly missed by all who know and love this beautiful game.

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World Cup Quarterfinal - Ep 19: Thanatos and Eros (Football as Operatic Tragedy)

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 07:17:38 GMT

Today's epic quarterfinal matchups both went to penalties: one as Greek tragedy, one as opera. Brazil laid siege to the Croatian defense, with Neymar breaking through in extra time, only to fall victim to the fatal flaws in their own defense as Croatia equalized with four minutes to spare and took the match to their dreaded home turf: the penalty shootout, where the world's greatest teams have fallen at their gates; and a dull, mind-numbing Thanatos prevailed, killing joy and stopping the spectacular Eros of Brazil's joga bonito in its tracks. Mel mourns the revitalized Brazil we'd only just gotten to know and love, and Alan elucidates on how we got here, in the context of Croatia's long history of taking teams down at the penalty stage. We then turn to the high drama of Argentina vs. Netherlands, and the brilliance of Emi Martinez in a showdown full of echoes from their last matchup in 2014. Can Messi take it all the way to the final? Can Croatia be stopped? And what kind of epic World Cup action will we see tomorrow?

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Quarterfinal Preview: Hopes, Signs, and Omens; the Triumph of Team 33

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 08:22:10 GMT

On this quarterfinal eve, Alan and Mel welcome Fernando back from Costa Rica, where he spent several days watching the game against Germany and the Round of 16 unfold. He brings back his impressions from a country where futbol is everywhere; and then we turn our eyes to Qatar, where one team - and country - is everywhere, despite not competing at this World Cup. Palestine, the unofficial Team 33 of this tournament, is already the winner of the World Cup in the eyes of many, including those in Gaza and the West Bank who can feel and hear the enormous show of solidarity from players and fans of every side. The Palestinian people are not forgotten, but in the global spotlight at these games, undermining the normalization of Israeli occupation. We then turn to our predictions, hopes, signs and omens for the quarterfinal games today and tomorrow, casting our lots for what promises to be a fun and fateful round of matches.

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World Cup Day 17: The Great Red-and-Green Hope

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 08:16:25 GMT

DAY 17 PODCAST: Today's astounding games were packed with superlative moments that make the World Cup a tournament for the ages. Morocco's decisive penalty shutout of Spain brought tears of joy to literally billions of people for whom Morocco represented the last hope in this tournament: hope for the Arab world, hope for Africa, hope for the underdogs, and an anti-colonial sock in the eye for all the peoples victimized by Spanish colonization since the Battle of Ceuta in 1415. The Moroccan team celebrated their victory not with their own flag, but with the Palestinian flag - a huge show of international solidarity that has been a running theme throughout this World Cup. This triumph was no stroke of luck - Morocco simply outplayed Spain by playing smart and steady, beating Luis Enrique's tiki-taka at his own game, with the coup de grace delivered by Hakimi through a cheeky Panenka kick that brought the world to tears of joy. The last game in the Round of 16 saw Cristiano Ronaldo benched for the first time in a major tournament game since 2004; and the rest of the Portuguese team, finally free from the shadow of a singular global superstar, produced a stupendous runabout of the Swiss that showcased a brilliant new generation of football stars to the world. Ronaldo's replacement, 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos who went into the game with just 35 minutes of experience at the international level, dazzled the world by scoring the first and only hat-trick of the World Cup; and, along with fellow goal-scorers Pepe, Guerreiro, and Leão, was supported by a fabulous ensemble team with a liberated spirit of play that mirrored the 'joga bonito' of their Lusophone counterparts in Brazil. We recap our favorite moments, trot out some fun facts, and figure out what to do with ourselves in the two days of darkness before the quarterfinals.

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World Cup Day 16: The Return of Joga Bonito

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 08:05:52 GMT

Another exciting day of knockout games! Alan and Mel recap the most thrilling moments from today's matches, including, of course, Richarlison's second phenomenal goal of the tournament, cementing his place in the pantheon of World Cup greats. Brazil's 4-1 rout of South Korea was a balletic masterpiece, marking the return of the 'joga bonito' style of play that had captured the hearts of Brazil fans around the world in decades past. Brazil's exuberant performance at this World Cup, with Lula supporters Richarlison and coach Tite at the forefront, brings good tidings for Lula and the Workers' Party as they return to power and reclaim the national jersey - and the nation itself - from the dark forces of Bolsonaro and the far right. They go into the quarterfinal against Croatia, notorious for the extreme and persistent racism of their fan base, but whose team played an excellent and more evenly matched game against Japan (the first to go to penalties); and we ponder on the political juxtapositions that will be in play on Friday. Each of the Round of 16 matches has featured an underdog versus a traditional powerhouse, with the latter comprising all six of the teams now going into the quarterfinal. We evaluate the teams, as well as those competing in tomorrow's final matches of the Round of 16, on both sporting and political levels, and lay our hopes on Africa's last holdout, Morocco, as they replay the Battle of Ceuta on the soccer field against Spain. Today also marked the last match to be played in Stadium 974, Qatar's 'temporary' stadium built from shipping containers; and we reflect upon the country's notorious labor abuse and exploitation in the context of other world-scale exhibition events, as well as muse on the future of the World Cup in 2026 and beyond.

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World Cup Day 15: Liberté, Égalité, Footballité

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:33:15 GMT

Today we feature a wide-ranging conversation with returning People's Game guest Laurent Dubois, author of Soccer Empire: The World Cup and the Future of France and The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer. We get his in-depth analysis of the French national team, which has shone in the tournament so far and is a solid contender to make it to the final; as well as its articulation with French politics, football culture and social evolution in an increasingly visible multi-cultural Europe. In contrast to the reactionary and xenophobic fan culture in Eastern Europe, this new generation of incredibly talented players in France, and the African Diaspora more generally, are using their platforms to speak out against racism and injustice in a global arena. We discuss his recent conversations with French national great Lilian Thuram about Thuram's brilliant new book White Thinking, which digs at the roots of implicit bias and colonialist/white supremacist thinking on a global level, and invites us to imagine a new horizon of possibility as we decolonize our minds. On the field, the talent from Africa and the African diaspora has distinguished itself in so many ways at every level of the game; bringing joy, wonder and consciousness that can form a progressive, unifying countervailing force against capitalist corruption and the far right's use of football to perpetuate and exploit social rivalries and divisions. Finally, we get his thoughts, expectations and hopes as the knockout rounds progress towards the high drama of a spectacular World Cup final.

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Sunday Broadcast Special - Football As Politics: The Balkan Wars

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 06:56:38 GMT

Today on the People's Game, we join KPFK's Beneath the Surface host and Soviet historian Suzi Weissman for a deeper look into the history and politics of some of the nationalist enmities on display during this World Cup, beyond the football. Racist chants and fascist slogans erupted from the Serbian side toward ethnic Albanians on the Swiss team, creating high stakes tension as Serbian players nearly came to blows with Switzerland’s star players who happen to be Albanian Kosovars. Where was FIFA? Was there discriminatory handling of the fans by the police who seemed uninterested in the offensive gestures, chants, and banners? Who knew that this World Cup would take us back to the Balkan wars of the 1990s following the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Fall of Yugoslavia? Suzi joins Meleiza and Alan for some political, economic, and historical background while Meleiza and Alan put this in broader perspective in the long history of football as politics – and history.

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World Cup Day 13: The Burden and Promise of Generations

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 08:04:12 GMT

Today marks the close of what may have been the most exciting group stage of the World Cup in living memory; and memory certainly played a big role in today's matches. We begin by tracing the political backstory behind the high-stakes tensions that erupted on the pitch during the Serbia vs. Switzerland match, a conflict that has deep historical roots in the Balkan wars of the 1990s. In the economic and political chaos that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union, football fandom in the former Yugoslav republics became a medium through which virulent nationalisms were hardened, culminating in the horrific campaigns of violence and ethnic cleansing whose consequences are felt on and off the pitch to literally this day. The Serbian team and its fans have been officially censured by FIFA for discriminatory and racist expressions, and today Serbian players nearly came to blows with Switzerland's star players, descended from Albanian Kosovar refugees. This is the dark side of international football, in which team loyalties can threaten to tear peoples apart as much as the global game brings the world together.

In our second segment, we welcome special guest Pablo Miralles, director of the excellent soccer documentary "Gringos at the Gate," and get his thoughts on the potential and promise of a new 'golden generation' in the US Men's National Team. Back in the knockout rounds for the first time since 2002, the young players of USMNT have impressed and excited at this World Cup, reflecting major changes in the way the USA has pursued the development of its international men's game, sending more players to Europe for greater access to training and exposure at the highest levels of professional club football. While the jury may still be out on their performance against the Netherlands tomorrow, it seems like the sky's the limit for this new generation in 2026 and beyond.

We also review the other incredible batch of matches from today, including Ghana's long-awaited revenge against Uruguay (for Luis Suarez's 2010 handball) by way of South Korea's surprise victory over Portugal, in an ecstatic display of international solidarity that served the world a steaming cup of Suarez tears as Uruguay won but failed to advance. And while Cameroon could not advance to the round of 16 over the comfortably placed Brazil, the Indomitable Lions enjoyed a thrilling stoppage-time upset over the 5-time world champions.

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World Cup Day 12: A Group Stage for the Ages

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 06:42:46 GMT

Today, we join the world in crying out: OMG THIS WORLD CUP!!! What a day of games! Alan and Mel recap all the incredible moments from this topsy-turvy batch of games filled with emotions high and low that tossed not one, but TWO heavily favored European teams out of the tournament at the group stage. First, the low. We mourn the tragic demise of Belgium's golden generation at the goalless hands of Croatia, as veteran world-class striker Romelu Lukaku took the field after recovering from serious injuries and failed to convert at least four clear chances at the goal, eliminating the 2nd best-rated team in the world. On the other side of Qatar, Morocco played a beautiful game against a valiant Canadian side and emerged victorious at the top of Group F. Later in the day, another incredible upset from Japan gets the Asian side through at the top of Group E, and we relive the 2 minutes of ecstatic glory felt by Costa Rican fans as they took the lead against Germany, before being defeated on the field by a 2-goal difference by a storied German side that, despite the win, still failed to make the cut for the Round of 16 for the second time since the tournament's inception. In political news, we discuss yesterday's pitch invasion during Tunisia vs. France in support of Palestine, and the resilience of the Palestinian team despite incredible repression from Israel, who has found a chilly welcome so far from the Islamic world at this World Cup. We also preview tomorrow's lineup and speculate on what historic, indelible moments we may find in the final round of group play, closing out what may be the most memorable group stage ever at a World Cup.

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World Cup Day 11: El Triste

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:03:12 GMT

Today's decisive World Cup matches brought brilliant play, stunning victories, shocking denials and historic heartbreaks to the field in Qatar. Tragically, today marks the end of El Tri's tournament journey, with Mexico's first early group stage exit from the World Cup since 1978 - made all the more heartbreaking by their win over Saudi Arabia and their thrilling return to world-class form, unfortunately too little too late. Simultaneously, a potential Argentine blowout of the Polish side, including a classic Messi penalty, was almost single-handedly averted by the incredible skills of Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. As the dust settled from Group C's chaos, the math came out in a dead heat between Poland and Mexico for the #2 slot, and Mexico's yellow cards were the decisive factor that sent them home. Fernando Orozco joins Alan and Mel from Costa Rica to offer his thoughts and analysis of El Tri's performance, and his thoughts on Costa Rica's chances going into a tough game against Germany. We then turn to a historic victory for labor in football: as USMNT goes through to the knockout rounds, their prize money for reaching this milestone is split with the US women's team per the equal pay agreement that Megan Rapinoe and the players' union fought for and won in 2021. Over $6 million will be pledged to the women's program - more than the total pay USWNT received for *winning* two Women's World Cups in 2015 and 2019. We also review today's Group D matches, which included a euphoric victory for Tunisia over their former colonizer, France; the first time Tunisia has bested a European team in the World Cup. The exuberance and fighting spirit of the Soccerroos was on full display against Denmark, earning them a spot in the Round of 16. In tomorrow's match preview, we prepare ourselves for the worst for Belgium, and contemplate the potential surprises that could send more of Europe's golden boys home.

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World Cup Day 10: Women, Life, Freedom

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 08:07:01 GMT

Another eventful day on the world's biggest stage, as Groups A and B struggle it out to secure their place in the Round of 16. Today we stand in solidarity with the people's struggle in Iran, whose irrepressible spirit of resistance continues on despite stadium security, covert surveillance, government threats, and the Iranian national team's exit from the World Cup tournament itself. On and off the field, this movement made itself known and felt to an audience of five billion people around the world, and demonstrated the power of the World Cup as a platform for something much greater than the game on the field. As players and fans face unknown yet potentially dire consequences at home for their courageous actions, we must continue to assure them the whole world is watching. We then turn to the action on the pitch, reviewing Senegal's spectacular and much-deserved win over Ecuador, Netherlands sleepwalking into the knockouts, Gareth Bale's swan song as Wales bows out of the tournament, and the triumphant return of USMNT as a world-class contender, thanks to superb organization and Christian Pulisic's phenomenally 'ballsy' goal. Looking forward to Day 11, we review the algebraic standings of Groups B and C, and share our thoughts, hopes and high stakes of tomorrow's banner matches.

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World Cup Day 9: The Agony and the Ecstasy

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:13:11 GMT

Today, we cover 2 days' worth of group stage matches - aka 48 hours of sheer insanity that made for some of the best viewing of the World Cup so far. We recap our impressions of the best of Sunday's matches: More stunning upsets abound, from Costa Rica's victory over Japan, to Morocco's remarkable win putting the beloved Belgian 'golden generation' in danger of an early retirement; Canada's 15 minutes of historic glory before being routed by a very competent Croatia; Spain and Germany's technical masterclass, before moving on to the most memorable moments from Monday's electrifying contests, including a six-goal sizzler between Cameroon and Serbia; the rollercoaster that was South Korea vs. Ghana; more glory for Brazil's up and coming generation of greats; and a classic between Portugal and Uruguay. And of course, it wouldn't be the People's Game if it weren't for the undercurrents of geopolitical drama manifesting on and off the field: the media war brewing between the US and Iran in anticipation of Tuesday's match, a pitch invasion in support of LGBTQ rights, Iranian women, and Ukraine; and the terrible ghosts of the post-Yugoslav wars continuing to haunt Balkan fans and players at home and in the diaspora.

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Sunday Special: TPG on KPFK's Beneath the Surface

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 19:44:36 GMT

This Sunday morning, Alan and Mel join KPFK's Beneath the Surface host Suzi Weissman with their unique perspectives of the 2022 Qatari World Cup. This is much more than soccer, but there is that too. They combine on-the-field analysis and discussions of the political, economic, and cultural subtexts of the World Cup. The emphasis is football, but we also get their analysis of the geopolitics of the World Cup, and its intersection with climate, sport, society, rebellion, and everything else. The 2022 Qatari World Cup is all superlatives: the biggest sports spectacle in the world, with more people watching than have ever watched anything ever. It is also the most expensive ever, by a long shot. The Qatari government has spent a staggering $250 billion building and remodeling the city for the World Cup, a giant investment using sports for political influence.

David Goldblatt, author of The Age of Football: Soccer and the 21st Century joins Alan and Mel in the second half to discuss his recent article in the London Review of Books, “How to Get on TV” – a fuller discussion of FIFA politics and the many controversies of the 2022 Qatari World Cup. We see the brave protests and athletes sporting armbands expressing solidarity with women and the LGBTQ community; less visible is Qatar’s migrant labor force working in searing heat to build literally everything on temporary work visas, without rights, adequate pay, or decent housing.

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World Cup Day 7: Solidarity Ball

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 06:01:09 GMT

On Day 7 of the People's Game, Alan and Mel reflect upon the importance of solidarity and justice in global football - first, standing in solidarity with Iranian club star Voria Ghafouri, who was not called up to this year's national side and was recently arrested by Iranian security forces for speaking out against the abuses of the regime. We also discuss the amazing spirit of justice embodied in Brazilian rising star Richarlison, who has long stood for his country's poor "without a voice and without a chance," and how he is now being embraced in his home country as a symbol of the renewed commitment to dignity and equality expressed in the re-election of President Lula. We then turn to the day's roster of memorable matches: France's continued brilliance, putting them out in front as a tournament favorite and the first team to advance to the round of 16; the tenacity of Tunisia; the mighty contest between Poland and Saudi Arabia, saved (literally) by the Polish goalkeeper Szczesny; and the highs and lows of the much-anticipated Argentina vs. Mexico. We review the group standings after 2 matches and our feelings of hope and despair for the teams we love. Finally, we look forward to tomorrow's matchups and prospects for groups E and F.

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World Cup Day 6: Hopefuls, Ho-Hums and Heartbreaks

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 04:42:11 GMT

On Day 6 of our World Cup 2022 coverage, Alan, Mel, and Fernando review the highs, lows, and mind-numbing in-betweens of today's four games. As we begin the second round of group play, we are beginning to get a clearer picture of which teams may advance and which are in danger of elimination. Wales vs. Iran set off the day on a high note, with a thrilling second half resulting in two brilliant goals for Iran, a red card for Wales' keeper, and broken spirits on the Welsh side. Continuing in Group B, the much-hyped England vs. USA match failed to deliver a goal, nor many interesting moments, between them; we speculate on what's missing from the two teams, and what they may need to do to step up for the very high stakes matches up ahead. Fernando lends his expertise on Dutch football to his analysis of the underwhelming Netherlands side so far in the tournament; and we celebrate Senegal's entertaining win over Qatar marking the first elimination of the tournament. Finally, we look ahead to tomorrow's lineup, in particular the much-anticipated Latin American showdown between Argentina and Mexico.

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World Cup Day 5: Guess Who's Back!

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 08:11:25 GMT

Welcome to Day 5 of The People's Game World Cup 2022! Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa, rejecting the colonizer's holiday, hereby declare today Richarlison Day following the best goal - and one of the best moments overall - of the tournament so far. Fresh from the feast, we discuss Brazil's brilliant performance against Serbia, featuring the goal heard round the world from the former Everton striker and leftist supporter of Lula, racial justice, and pandemic equity. With the Workers' Party back in power, we see a fresh and exuberant Brazilian side that echoes the team's greatness of old. We also discuss the intense and exciting Portugal vs. Ghana contest, the contradictions of Switzerland's Cameroonian goal striker against the country of his birth, and the woulda-coulda-shoulda of Uruguay vs. South Korea. Finally, with all teams having cycled through the first round of group play, we evaluate which sides have come out on top, speculate on the future trajectory of the tournament, and preview tomorrow's big matches, including England vs. USA.

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World Cup Day 4: The Plot Thickens

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 05:41:04 GMT

A tremendous Day 4 of the World Cup brings another stunning upset from the Asian Confederation with the thrilling victory of Japan over Germany, a tragic but predictable blowout of Costa Rica at the hands of a veteran Spain, and the arrival of a fresh and talented Canadian team on the biggest of world stages. Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa break down their favorite moments from today's games, and discuss the high geopolitical intrigue evolving among the elites of FIFA, the Qatari government and the European Federation.

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World Cup Day 3: Oh My, Oh Memo!

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 06:07:18 GMT

Welcome to a momentous Day 3 of the World Cup! Hosts Alan Minsky and Mel Figueroa are once again joined by Fernando Orozco to discuss the highlights of today's four group games: the stunning upset of Saudi Arabia over the storied Argentinian side, the tenacity of Tunisia (and their amazing fans), the brilliance of Santo Guillermo Ochoa's goalkeeping against Poland's penalty, and France's rout of the Socceroos. We discuss the prospects of each of these groups going forward, and share our hopes and expectations for Wednesday's upcoming matches.

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World Cup Day 2: The Contests Begin

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 07:04:51 GMT

Hosts Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa are joined by Fernando Orozco to discuss today's trio of great World Cup matches: from England's rout of Iran and Senegal holding its own against a tepid Netherlands side, to a surprisingly top-notch performance from USMNT against the power of Gareth Bale's man bun. We also look at the complex political drama unfolding in Qatar, including FIFA's attack on LGBTQ+ solidarity, the geopolitics of Qatar and the World Cup, and the heart and struggle of Iran's team and the women cheering them on in defiance of their oppressive government. Next on the field, we preview Argentina, El Tri, and the other teams heading into Tuesday's lineup.

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World Cup Day 1: Welcome to the Spectacle

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:44:39 GMT

It's the first day of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the kickoff to this year's World Cup is as surreal as the 12 years leading up to this most unusual - and controversial - of tournaments. Hosts Alan Minsky and Mel Figueroa discuss today's Qatar-Ecuador opening game, the not-so-subtle elephant in the room regarding Qatar's controversial and devastating record so far as host of this year's World Cup, and their predictions as well as the prospects and politics of the group games over the next couple of days.

We will be covering the World Cup every day over the course of the tournament. Stay tuned!

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