What the 2026 World Cup Is Really About

Football was never just football — and that is especially true of the World Cup.With less than 60 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Michael and Asli are joined by Simon Kuper to explore the politics, economics, and cultural power behind the biggest tournament in sport.Drawing on his new book, World Cup Fever: A Footballing Journey in Nine Tournaments, Simon explains why the World Cup is about far more than what happens on the pitch. The conversation covers FIFA’s controversial ticket pricing, the politics surrounding the tournament, and whether the expanded 48-team format risks making the early rounds weaker and less exciting.Michael and Asli also ask what smaller countries really gain from appearing at a World Cup, whether the tournament delivers meaningful economic benefits, and why the true value may be joy, identity, and a rare shared experience that brings millions of people together.The episode also explores why Western Europe continues to dominate world football, what the tournament could mean for the future of soccer in the United States, and whether MLS is doing enough to become a truly elite league.To close, the team dives into FIFA’s latest ticketing controversy, including new premium seating categories, confusing seat assignments, and why many fans feel increasingly priced out of the World Cup experience.This episode is about more than who wins in 2026.It is about what the World Cup reveals, who it serves, and why — for all its flaws — it still captures the imagination of billions.---For more, follow Asli and Michael on InstagramAsli - @brefootcontessaMichael - @michale.loreAnd follow the show…On Instagram - @financeoffootballpodOn Facebook - /financeoffootball---The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRéEditing and Sound Design by Ryan HammondMixing and Mastering by Julian KwasneskiExecutive Produced by Ryan Hammond,  Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky---Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.