What does it mean when the sons of empire become the heroes of the nation that once ruled them? Four years later, what happens when one of those same colonies turns round and beats France on the biggest stage there is? And could two World Cups, played four years and one continent apart, actually tell you where the world's centre of gravity was heading next?

Peter and Afua trace France '98 and the first World Cup ever held in Asia, from Zidane's headed goals to Senegal's shock win over the champions, to ask what football reveals about migration, empire and a shifting world order.

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[0:00] A million people on the Champs-Élysées, and a face that didn't fit the old postcard of France

[2:56] The Republic's beautiful idea, and the empire it was built on

[6:06] Zidane, Thuram, Vieira — the team Le Pen said wasn't really French

[9:53] Ronaldo's mystery fit, hours before the final

[15:05] Iran and the USA, white flowers, and a photograph that stopped the world

[23:14] The World Cup leaves the Atlantic world for the first time in 72 years

[27:26] South Korea's run to the semi-finals, and the making of a soft-power superpower

[34:20] Senegal 1, France 0 — what it meant to beat the empire

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Explore more from Peter and Afua — essays, sources, and ideas:

Substack: peterfrankopan.substack.com | afuahirsch.substack.com

Join Legacy+ for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more.

legacy.supportingcast.fm

Stay connected with Legacy:

Instagram: @originallegacypodcast

TikTok: @legacy_productions

Explore more from Peter and Afua — essays, sources, and ideas: Substack: peterfrankopan.substack.com | afuahirsch.substack.com

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