No Iran in the World Cup: When Politics Trumps Sport episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 10, 2026 · 14 MIN

No Iran in the World Cup: When Politics Trumps Sport

from Ed Berliner’s ”The Fastest Show in Sports”

Ed Berliner argues that Iran should be excluded from the 2026 World Cup because of its government’s role in sponsoring violence and the security and moral risks their presence could create, and it similarly questions Russia’s participation. It traces the long history of politics in sport—from the 1936 Olympics to Colin Kaepernick—and suggests using international competitions as a "carrot and stick" to encourage nations to earn their place while criticizing FIFA’s corruption and the broader politicization of global sports.

NOW PLAYING

No Iran in the World Cup: When Politics Trumps Sport

0:00 14:27

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Ed Berliner’s ”The Fastest Show in Sports”?

This episode is 14 minutes long.

When was this Ed Berliner’s ”The Fastest Show in Sports” episode published?

This episode was published on March 10, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Ed Berliner argues that Iran should be excluded from the 2026 World Cup because of its government’s role in sponsoring violence and the security and moral risks their presence could create, and it similarly questions Russia’s participation. It...

Can I download this Ed Berliner’s ”The Fastest Show in Sports” episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!