America's Cup

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 Island. America’s smallest state contains multitudes in its 1,033 square miles, not to mention its proximity to Boston. When the Patriots play, it accommodates 40% of traveling fans. For this World Cup, Providence is a pretty convenient stop along the Amtrak corridor.

So Ocean State 2026 was formed to host “39...

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 number-one most-wanted drug lord, head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Almost immediately, violence erupted across several states, including gunfire at Guadalajara airport, hijackings, and arson. It was short-lived, but the near future remains uncertain.

Yet Guadalajara is set...

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 nation is suddenly embroiled in a war with the co-hosts.

There’s now a question of whether Iran can and will want to participate in a World Cup on U.S. soil. The country is well within its rights to as a qualified team; no team has wi...

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 the U.S., in car-centric cities where extortionate parking, Ubers, and park and ride systems dominate.

Cities are pumping money and logistics into public transit, but there’s still no guarantee things will run smoothly. One option to navigate tr...

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” hosting matches this summer. That’s according to Jonathan Knecht, senior VP of creative and marketing at the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Talib chatted to Jonathan a few weeks ago (shout out to the holiday tree), but since then, KC has g...

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 controllers, while the powers that be are more focused on cracking down on flyers wearing pajamas, and installing pull-up bars in airports.

With a multi-national tournament, there will be much criss-crossing countries. After the World Cup draw, we know fans of Croatia, Germany, and Japan will have to cross international borders at l...

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 mega-events: eight World Cup games in 2026, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the culmination in the 2028 Olympics.

Journalist Alissa Walker has been following the preparation in granular, hyper-local detail on her newsletter, Torched (sign up here!). She joins me today to talk LA and its World Cup prep, fr...

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 where a quarter of residents are immigrants, many residents are “living in the shadows,” says Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, a social justice advocate with the American Friends Service Committee. And amid the “insanity,” Miami intends to put out the welcome mat for thousands of international visitors.

Miami is a gateway to Latin America, a crucia...

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, that force was made up of 20,000 volunteers, whittled down from 420,000 applicants. In 2026, there will be 65,000 volunteers. So across the 16 host cities, there are lengthy and intense application processes to select the lucky thousands who will work across hospitality, fan zones, ceremonies; as airports meeters-and-greeters, stadium assistants, and cultural am...

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 his ability to set up political and economic context, show the soccer stakes, and weave through compelling and funny anecdotes.

The discussion is about the 2026 World Cup—and the issues explored on this newsletter and podcast—through a lens of historical parallels and precedents. They get into everything from Muss...

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. McKay also oversees Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Falcons play—and where Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches next summer, including a semi-final.

On a visit to New York to talk up their town, they sat down with Talib to chat all...

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 Sykes from the ACLU, who explores legal aspects and potential governmental responses to protests, and César Jiménez Martínez from the London School of Economics, who provides a philosophical perspective on the significance of flags in national identity and protest movements. The episode also considers past World Cups, the symbolism of fla...

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 Charlie Kirk, the conversation delves into the uncertainties and planning challenges for such a high-profile event. He interviews Juliette Kayyem, an expert in mega-event security, and a former U.S. Homeland Security personnel, to explore how safety measures will be managed across multiple cities while maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere for fans. Topics covered in...