The Ugly Politics of the Beautiful Game

Alex Shephard on greed, corruption, and the enduring magic of the World Cup

The World Cup is heating up here in the United States as teams head into the quarter finals. It has had its fair share of controversies: immigration crackdowns, exorbitant ticket prices, and a cozy relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Trump. But this year’s tournament has also provided some of the most magical and memorable moments in World Cup history. 

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs’ Jonathan Guyer is joined by Alex Shephard, senior editor at The New Republic. He is also a co-founder of Golden Goal, a magazine dedicated to the 2026 World Cup in all its glory and complexity. They discuss what is shaping up to be the most lucrative tournament in World Cup history, greed and corruption at FIFA, and why, despite some ugly realities, the beautiful game continues to unite the world.

Listen Here: Apple Podcasts | Google Play |  Libsyn | Radio Public | Soundcloud | Spotify  |  TuneIn | RSS

Alex Shephard is a senior editor at The New Republic, where he has covered politics and culture since 2015, and avid soccer fan. He is a co-founder and editor of Golden Goal, a digital and print publication dedicated to the 2026 World Cup. His writing has also appeared in New York Magazine, GQ, The Atlantic, and The Nation, among others. 

Find Alex on X: https://x.com/alex_shephard  

Check out Golden Goal: https://goldengoal.world/  

Read Alex’s latest piece about the World Cup: https://newrepublic.com/article/212736/trump-world-cup-balogun-red-card-fifa