The Politics of FIFA's 2030 World Cup ft. Leslie Mabon

Why did FIFA award the 2030 World Cup to six countries across three continents—Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco? What political calculations shaped this unprecedented decision? And how prepared are these nations to host an expanded tournament?In this companion episode to their recent discussion on the 2034 World Cup, Guy and Francesco break down the political and logistical challenges of the 2030 edition. They explore Morocco’s hosting ambitions against the backdrop of high youth unemployment and its ongoing occupation of Western Sahara. Plus, they’re joined by Dr Leslie Mabon from the Open University to examine the environmental criticisms of FIFA’s plan and whether sustainability concerns can be addressed.