Jacob grabs Chris Branch, senior writer at The Athletic and author of The Pulse, to talk about the World Cup as geopolitics. They cover Trump's red-card intervention and the Balogun controversy, England-Argentina and the ghost of the Falklands, why sports and politics were never actually separate, and why China and India can barely qualify while Cape Verde runs wild. Plus: whether soccer ever truly takes hold in America, and why it might take a billionaire treating the sport like a Carnegie library to make it happen.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome and Guest Intro

(01:41) - In-Person Catch-Up

(02:40) - Meet Chris Branch

(03:28) - Why This World Cup Hit Different

(05:09) - Sports Writing Meets Politics

(07:11) - Fan Culture and National Rivalries

(10:24) - FIFA Corruption and New Fans

(14:03) - Picking a Premier League Team

(15:16) - Can Soccer Catch On in America

(17:49) - Why MLS Struggles

(21:55) - Pay-to-Play and US Development

(29:22) - Women’s Soccer and Global Gaps

(33:47) - Trump, FIFA, and the Balogun Saga

(35:29) - Red Card Controversy

(36:25) - Iran Match Bad Karma

(37:37) - Play Anyway Debate

(42:22) - Sports as Common Ground

(44:37) - Stars Politics and Fandom

(56:10) - Money Youth Sports Future

(01:04:53) - Closing Stories and Wrap

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Referenced in the Show:

The Pulse - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/newsletters/the-pulse/

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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

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The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

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Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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If you're enjoying the Jacob Shapiro Podcast, make sure to check out Marketplace's Morning Report! The team gives you the economy without the anxiety, in the amount of time it takes to brew a cup of coffee.