5. The Power of Football

With the World Cup now underway in North America, this season finale of Power Plays explores what comes next for football and FIFA. From the politics surrounding this year's tournament to future World Cups in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, we examine how the game continues to shape—and be shaped—by power.Over the course of Season 1, we’ve traveled from Mussolini’s Italy to Argentina's military junta, Putin’s Russia, and Qatar's controversial World Cup. Along the way, we’ve seen how football has been used to project global influence and advance political ambitions. Now, we end with a simple question—what should we do with all that we’ve learned?We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but perhaps it starts here: When you love something, you should want to make it better… because the next chapter of the beautiful game is still being written.In this episode, you’ll learn:Football’s role in Egypt's 2011 uprisingHow Infantino has reshaped FIFA's relationship with world leadersWhy Morocco's youth are pushing backThe hidden costs of hosting the World CupSaudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and footballShould fans boycott the World Cup?What it means to love football without ignoring its political realitiesConnect:Website: hrf.orgInstagram: @hrfYouTube: @humanrightsfdnFacebook: humanrightsfoundationX: @HRFWe’ve partnered with La Media Inglesa to bring you the full episode on YouTube, out now.Created by Karim Zidan and Elie Bleier.Produced by Elie Bleier and Robert Scaramuccia.Media strategy by Guillermo Purchese and Marielle Marlys.