This week we’re talking economics and finances of the world’s game with professor, author and podcaster Kieran Maguire of University of Liverpool. (We apologize in advance for those who thought this show was about gridiron football, but with the Club World Cup beginning June 14, we thought it would be interesting to discuss football/soccer finance and some economic implications of the 2026 World Cup in North America.)

Maguire joins Macro Matters podcast host Ira Jersey, Bloomberg Intelligence’s chief US rates strategist, and Business of Sports co-host and EM Lens host Damian Sassower, BI’s chief emerging market fixed income strategist. The group discusses football club valuations, the economic benefits (or pitfalls) of hosting the World Cup, and how clubs used debt to finance player transfers and club operations.

The Macro Matters podcast is part of BI’s FICC Focus series.