PODCAST · sports
America's Cup
by Talib Visram
How the world's favorite sporting event will meet America's own vision for it. Original reporting and analysis on the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in this political, social, and cultural moment. talibvisram.substack.com
Episodes
-
Why the World Cup Matters
It’s finally here. On Thursday afternoon, Mexico and South Africa will kick off in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. There are now signs of life: teams and fans are arriving, settling into their base camps, dealing with the heat, touring new environments… even baptizing planes. There is...
-
Scoring when it's scorching
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends athletic activity should cease at 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius). But this weekend, temperatures will surge past 90°F (32°C) in Dallas and Houston. And we’re only in May. It’s fair to say many—if not most—matches this summer will be...
-
How AI plays into World Cup security
Even at the best of times, highly populated mega-events are a public safety concern. Much more so at a paranoid moment when the host nation is at war, has a fair share of geopolitical enemies and a history of gun violence, plus an abundance of natural disaster hotspots. Way back in episode 1 of...
-
Sweden, meet Texas: How teams choose their base camps
Last week, when the tiny island nation of Cape Verde chose Tampa, Florida as their team base camp, 48 of 48 of those camps were finalized. These FIFA-approved camps—training facilities and accommodations—are now set all over the country, from Boston (France), to Nashville (Japan), to Mesa…
more -
Underdog Story, Part 2: Haiti's defiant return
There may be no nation facing the brute force of a combination of America’s harshest policies in 2026, from visa bans to ICE raids, quite as much as Haiti. Pair that with being the recipient of Donald Trump’s most unfounded rhetoric, including that Haitians in Ohio were eating cats and dogs. Yet,...
-
Underdog Story, Part 1: Is it hard to root for the USA in 2026?
Almost exactly a year ago, journalist Beau Duré wrote an article for The Guardian titled “The US men’s national team aren’t just underachievers; they’re unlikeable.” A year on, he hasn’t budged from that stance. It’s something Talib has been thinking about as the U.S. has increasingly antagonized...
-
Prediction markets and World Cup wagers
The World Cup hasn’t traditionally been a favorite event for U.S. sports bettors. But as North America prepares to host, the gambling landscape is a lot different. Since 2018, sports betting has been legal, and 10% of Americans partake. Punters may wage $1.5 billion on the tournament this summer....
-
Your home could be a gold mine during the World Cup
Nothing quite beats a good hotel, but I’m also a huge fan of short-term rentals—basically, Airbnbs. They can be quirky, unique, and off the beaten path, often with kind and hospitable hosts. It’s a way to truly immerse in a locality. It seems like many World Cup travelers are thinking about...
-
How America's smallest state aims to punch above its weight
After a drawn-out debacle caused by funding disagreements, Boston—or more accurately, Foxborough, Massachusetts—finally agreed to authorize a license to host seven matches. And they are some big ones: England v. Ghana and Norway v. France, to name a couple. That’s good news for neighboring Rhode...
-
Cartels and the Cup
On day one of the World Cup on June 11, all eyes are on Mexico. Mexico City will host the opening match of the tournament, Mexico vs. South Africa, followed by a night game in Guadalajara. But Guadalajara is at a precarious moment. In February, the Mexican government took down El Mencho, its...
-
What the Iran war means for the World Cup
For the Iranian soccer team, It all seemed to good to be true. Iran flew through World Cup qualification, then cemented a relatively undemanding group, and secured two matches in Los Angeles—a city with such a vibrant Iranian-American population that it’s often known as Tehrangeles. Now, the…
more -
Transit tactics for game day chaos
Let’s say you’ve won the ticket lottery. You’ve spent last month’s paycheck (or last three paychecks) on that ticket. So you’re sure as hell not going to want to leave that match early and miss the extra time and penalties. Getting to and from stadiums can be chaotic. That’s especially true in…
more -
Putting the Midwest on the world map
You may have noticed America’s Cup took a hiatus (for various personal reasons) but it’s… so back. We’re now finally in 2026 and you can be sure of a stretch of new episodes as we approach the tournament. In the first episode back, the spotlight is on Kansas City, the only' “true Midwest city”...
-
Prepare for turbulence
The longest-ever government shutdown this fall lasted 43 days and severely impacted air travel, from millions of delays and cancelations to hours-long waits at security. Though that chaos has concluded, aviation still isn’t stress-free for travelers. There’s still a shortage of air traffic...
-
Pointless palm trees and secret public bathrooms
Spread out across Los Angeles County there are 10 million people, a bigger population than that of 40 other states combined. The sprawling, smoggy city of Los Angeles is no stranger to hosting big events, for athletes and Hollywood stars alike. But it’s in a new era of hosting continuous...
-
"Insanity": Miami hosts as Florida cracks down on immigration
Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has become a hotbed for immigration enforcement. Local police in cities and counties, as well as Florida Highway Patrol, have been authorized to carry out ICE-adjacent duties like detaining people suspected of breaking federal immigration laws. In a state…
more -
Inside the World Cup's massive volunteer program
Among those involved in making sure the World Cup goes off as smoothly as possible, the front-facing organizing roles often get the most credit and coverage. But there’s a giant volunteer force at work behind the scenes. The unsung, on-the-ground heroes that truly power the tournament. At Qatar,...
-
Uruguay 1930 to Qatar 2022: The 22 tournaments that came before
Talib interviews Jonathan Wilson, one of the preeminent football writers of our time. His new book, The Power and the Glory, is the definitive history of the World Cup. Each chapter is dedicated to the 22 tournaments that have gone before, from Uruguay 1930 to Qatar 2022. Wilson is unrivaled in…
more -
Atlanta can do big. But this is bigger than big
Call it what you want: A blue ribbon core in a red state. The city in a forest. The little engine that could. These are all terms used to describe Atlanta by today's guests: Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of Metro Atlanta’s Chamber of Commerce; and Rich McKay, CEO of the Atlanta Falcons....
-
Flagging freedoms
This episode delves into the multi-faceted role of flags in the context of the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States. Talib discusses the political implications of flag-waving, and examines how the rights to protest and freedom of expression may be challenged. Guest interviews are Emerson...
-
Safety is friction
In the first podcast episode of America’s Cup (also a Substack newsletter), Talib discusses the complex interplay of security, politics, and logistics involved in hosting the 2026 World Cup in the United States. With a backdrop of consistent gun violence highlighted by the recent shooting of...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does America's Cup have?
America's Cup currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is America's Cup about?
How the world's favorite sporting event will meet America's own vision for it. Original reporting and analysis on the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in this political, social, and cultural moment. talibvisram.substack.com
How often does America's Cup release new episodes?
America's Cup has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to America's Cup?
You can listen to America's Cup on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts America's Cup?
America's Cup is created and hosted by Talib Visram.
URL copied to clipboard!