The Disgrace of Gijón: When Game Theory Took Over the World Cup

In this episode, Alex examines the infamous "Disgrace of Gijón" from the 1982 World Cup in Spain and why it remains one of the most fascinating examples of game theory in sports. Alex explores how FIFA's tournament structure created incentives that made competition irrational once West Germany took an early lead against Austria, ultimately leaving Algeria as the victim of a flawed system. The discussion goes beyond soccer to explore what this controversial match can teach us about politics, institutions, and the unintended consequences of poorly designed incentives.