For the Iranian soccer team, It all seemed to good to be true. Iran flew through World Cup qualification, then cemented a relatively undemanding group, and secured two matches in Los Angeles—a city with such a vibrant Iranian-American population that it’s often known as Tehrangeles.

Now, the nation is suddenly embroiled in a war with the co-hosts.

There’s now a question of whether Iran can and will want to participate in a World Cup on U.S. soil. The country is well within its rights to as a qualified team; no team has withdrawn since 1950, and that was not for political reasons.

But days after the U.S. struck Iran, Donald Trump said “I really don’t care” if Iran participates, driving a real possibility that the nation might not be welcomed. With a travel ban already in place, FIFA will likely now have to be ready with a back-up plan.

So what happens now? What does it mean for tournament logistics, for security, and for the Iranian-American community?

I talked to Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston, and author of the recent book Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the Remaking of World Soccer.

00:28 Iran’s Dream Draw and LA Spotlight

01:27 Strikes Put Qualification at Risk

02:06 Who Can Block Iran

02:50 Meet the Gulf Football Expert

05:55 Why Football Matters in Iran

07:47 No Precedent for Host vs Participant

09:58 If Iran Withdraws Who Replaces Them

11:00 FIFA vs US Government Power

15:48 Access and Visa Ban Fallout

17:46 Security Threats and Funding Gaps

20:07 US vs Iran Matchup and Diaspora Divides

24:28 Gulf Region Events in the Crossfire

27:20 Vision 2030 and Saudi’s World Cup Plans

28:26 Final Thoughts

Let’s say you’ve won the ticket lottery. You’ve spent last month’s paycheck (or last three paychecks) on that ticket. So you’re sure as hell not going to want to leave that match early and miss the extra time and penalties.

Getting to and from stadiums can be chaotic. That’s especially true in the U.S., in car-centric cities where extortionate parking, Ubers, and park and ride systems dominate.

Cities are pumping money and logistics into public transit, but there’s still no guarantee things will run smoothly. One option to navigate travel is Citymapper, an app (and Google Maps rival) that uses granular, real-time data to send travelers on the most optimal urban routes, down to the right stadium gate or the most air-conditioned train cars.

The app is popular in Europe, and rolled out specific features for the Paris Olympics. As football fans try and find their bearings, they might plug into Citymapper to help them on their way.

I talked to Citymapper’s Ravi Jolly to find out more.

00:00 Postgame exit chaos

02:08 Transit apps to the rescue

03:40 Meet Citymapper’s Ravi Jolly

06:19 What Citymapper does

09:42 Getting to Arlington Stadium

12:43 Paris Olympics Playbook

15:17 Seat specific routing

17:38 Beating surge pricing after games

19:55 Car culture vs transit reality

23:03 AI predictions and event know-how

26:00 Air-conditioned routes and fun features

27:27 Mission of making cities usable

30:50 Transport shouldn’t be the story

You may have noticed America’s Cup took a hiatus (for various personal reasons) but it’s… so back. We’re now finally in 2026 and you can be sure of a stretch of new episodes as we approach the tournament.

In the first episode back, the spotlight is on Kansas City, the only' “true Midwest city” hosting matches this summer. That’s according to Jonathan Knecht, senior VP of creative and marketing at the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Talib chatted to Jonathan a few weeks ago (shout out to the holiday tree), but since then, KC has grown in hosting stature, claiming team base camps for three World Cup giants—Argentina, England, and the Netherlands—as well as African hopefuls Algeria.

So, what exactly does Kansas City have to offer? And even if it can attract global visitors, how will it sustain the world’s economic attention after the party has gone?

00:00 What happened to the Chiefs?

00:46 America’s Cup returns

02:06 Argentina opener, base camps & KC’s surging demand

03:24 Guest intro, selling Kansas City to the world

04:13 Kansas City 101

07:18 KC’s economy & big brands

10:28 Short-term tourism vs long-term investment

12:25 Hosting Messi and potentially Ronaldo

15:46 Small businesses & soccer culture

18:52 The “Taylor Effect” on KC growth

22:22 Immigration red tape, ticket prices & access

27:02 Measuring success

30:17 Final pitch

The longest-ever government shutdown this fall lasted 43 days and severely impacted air travel, from millions of delays and cancelations to hours-long waits at security.

Though that chaos has concluded, aviation still isn’t stress-free for travelers. There’s still a shortage of air traffic controllers, while the powers that be are more focused on cracking down on flyers wearing pajamas, and installing pull-up bars in airports.

With a multi-national tournament, there will be much criss-crossing countries. After the World Cup draw, we know fans of Croatia, Germany, and Japan will have to cross international borders at least twice if they are to catch all their teams’ games.

As we approach the holidays and many people’s minds are on taking to the skies to get home for festive celebrations, this episode flies ahead to next summer’s aviation picture. What could go right and wrong? How can fans stay sane as they navigate the airways across the North American expanse, and the inevitable delays and disruptions—and hope for no more shutdowns?

Talib talks to Darryl Campbell, an author and an aviation journalist at The Verge, to find out more.

00:00 Introduction to the Impact of Government Shutdown on Air Travel

01:49 World Cup 2026: Air Travel Challenges

03:28 Interview with Aviation Expert Darryll Campbell

04:49 Darryll Campbell on Government Shutdown Effects

07:09 Air Travel During the World Cup: What to Expect

10:12 Navigating International and Domestic Travel

14:21 Potential Risks and Delays in Air Travel

21:45 Final Thoughts and Tips for Travelers

Spread out across Los Angeles County there are 10 million people, a bigger population than that of 40 other states combined.

The sprawling, smoggy city of Los Angeles is no stranger to hosting big events, for athletes and Hollywood stars alike. But it’s in a new era of hosting continuous mega-events: eight World Cup games in 2026, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the culmination in the 2028 Olympics.

Journalist Alissa Walker has been following the preparation in granular, hyper-local detail on her newsletter, Torched (sign up here!). She joins me today to talk LA and its World Cup prep, from its notorious traffic, to wildfires, to secret public bathrooms.

And no shade to the city’s famous palm trees… but Walker explains why, literally, they do not provide shade.

00:00 Introduction to LA's Mega-Event Hosting Era

04:34 World Cup vs. Olympics: Cultural and Logistical Differences

11:08 Transportation and Infrastructure Concerns

14:50 Heat and Environmental Challenges

19:05 Emergency Protocols and Security Issues

30:44 Public Facilities... and Final Thoughts

Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has become a hotbed for immigration enforcement. Local police in cities and counties, as well as Florida Highway Patrol, have been authorized to carry out ICE-adjacent duties like detaining people suspected of breaking federal immigration laws.

In a state where a quarter of residents are immigrants, many residents are “living in the shadows,” says Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, a social justice advocate with the American Friends Service Committee. And amid the “insanity,” Miami intends to put out the welcome mat for thousands of international visitors.

Miami is a gateway to Latin America, a crucial airport hub for many who’ll be coming in for the tournament; Hard Rock Stadium will host seven matches, including a quarter-final and the 3rd/4th playoff. And all 60 miles from the feared detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz, which has been allowed to remain open via an appeals court decision.

Many fear ICE will have a presence at the tournament, as the federal government announced agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl in February after Bad Bunny was revealed as the halftime artist. Mendez-Zamora has been working to try and convince FIFA and the Miami committee that would be a bad idea. She joins Talib to discuss the campaign and the stakes involved.

Correction: The episode mentions that Miami is the biggest city in Florida. That’s incorrect; it’s the second-biggest, after Jacksonville.

00:00 Florida's Political Shift and DeSantis' Policies

02:19 Miami: A Hub for Immigration Issues

03:04 Yareliz Mendez-Zamora joins

06:27 Challenges Faced by Immigrants in Florida

15:21 The 287(g) Program and Its Impact

21:39 Future of Immigration Policies and FIFA's Role

23:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Among those involved in making sure the World Cup goes off as smoothly as possible, the front-facing organizing roles often get the most credit and coverage. But there’s a giant volunteer force at work behind the scenes. The unsung, on-the-ground heroes that truly power the tournament.

At Qatar, that force was made up of 20,000 volunteers, whittled down from 420,000 applicants. In 2026, there will be 65,000 volunteers. So across the 16 host cities, there are lengthy and intense application processes to select the lucky thousands who will work across hospitality, fan zones, ceremonies; as airports meeters-and-greeters, stadium assistants, and cultural ambassadors.

The episode features two interviews: the first with Alison Grove, who discusses her involvement in managing the volunteer program for the Philadelphia Host City Committee and the extensive application and training process. The second interview is with Diana Cruz, a potential volunteer from Los Angeles, who shares her previous experience at the Club World Cup, and motivations for participating.

00:00 Introduction to the volunteer workforce

02:19 Application process for volunteers

04:48 Interview with Alison Grove, head of Philadelphia’s volunteer program

20:16 Interview with Diana Cruz, volunteer applicant in Los Angeles

30:47 Conclusion

Talib interviews Jonathan Wilson, one of the preeminent football writers of our time. His new book, The Power and the Glory, is the definitive history of the World Cup. Each chapter is dedicated to the 22 tournaments that have gone before, from Uruguay 1930 to Qatar 2022. Wilson is unrivaled in his ability to set up political and economic context, show the soccer stakes, and weave through compelling and funny anecdotes.

The discussion is about the 2026 World Cup—and the issues explored on this newsletter and podcast—through a lens of historical parallels and precedents. They get into everything from Mussolini to the Falklands War, and OJ Simpson to Christian Pulisic. Wilson reveals one of his favorite World Cup memories, on a night train in Russia. And he explains why this tournament has the potential to be a goals-galore thriller… or a sterile dud.

00:00 Intro

04:01 FIFA and Government Interactions

05:56 Immigration and the World Cup

08:59 Diversity and US Soccer

11:49 Geopolitical Tensions in World Cup History

15:14 World Leaders and the World Cup

19.05 Protests, Flags, and Israel/Palestine

22.12 Game Relocation and Fan Impact

25:53 Security Concerns at World Cups

27:48 Expansive Geography and Multiple Co-Hosts

30:40 Comparison to USA ’94

37:13 Expectations on the Pitch for 2026

40.22 Hosts that Have Overcome Doubt

42.54 Favorite World Cup Memory

Call it what you want: A blue ribbon core in a red state. The city in a forest. The little engine that could.

These are all terms used to describe Atlanta by today's guests: Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of Metro Atlanta’s Chamber of Commerce; and Rich McKay, CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. McKay also oversees Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Falcons play—and where Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches next summer, including a semi-final.

On a visit to New York to talk up their town, they sat down with Talib to chat all things World Cup prep, and Atlanta’s economic prospects, 30 years after its Olympics.

00:00 Intro

04:37 World Cup Preparations and Infrastructure

06:18 Challenges and Opportunities for Hosting

13:10 Security and Political Dynamics

20:37 World Cup Expansion and Economic Synergies

23:45 Tourism and Economic Impact

25:28 End of the Hot Streak?

28:45 Small Business Involvement and Legacy Programs

31:31 Community Accessibility and Equity

37:33 Climate Considerations

39:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode delves into the multi-faceted role of flags in the context of the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States. Talib discusses the political implications of flag-waving, and examines how the rights to protest and freedom of expression may be challenged. Guest interviews are Emerson Sykes from the ACLU, who explores legal aspects and potential governmental responses to protests, and César Jiménez Martínez from the London School of Economics, who provides a philosophical perspective on the significance of flags in national identity and protest movements. The episode also considers past World Cups, the symbolism of flags, and the potential impact of the current U.S. political climate on the freedom to protest.

00:00 Introduction: Flags Beyond Football

00:19 The Political Weight of Flags

01:06 Flags at the World Cup: A Symbol of Pride

01:36 Historical Context: Flags and National Identity

02:16 The US Flag in 2026: Patriotism or Protest?

02:45 Flags in Protests: Mexican and Palestinian Flags

03:24 FIFA Regulations on Flags

03:58 Interview with Emerson Sykes: Free Speech and Protests

15:49 Interview with Cesar Jimenez Martinez: The Philosophy of Flags

30:06 Conclusion: The Dual Nature of the World Cup