How Soccer Explains the World | Franklin Foer on the 2026 World Cup

World Cup 2026, U.S.-Iran tensions, nationalism, globalization, and the politics of soccer all converge in this conversation with Franklin Foer, author of the bestselling book How Soccer Explains the World. Foer joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer on the eve of the World Cup to discuss why soccer remains one of the best lenses for understanding political power, identity, and international affairs. More than twenty years after the book's original publication, he reflects on how globalization has reshaped the sport, why nationalism remains a powerful force, and what the rise of state-owned clubs, sportswashing, and billionaire ownership reveals about the modern world. Topics discussed: • Why globalization often strengthened local and national identities rather than replacing them • The possibility of a U.S.-Iran World Cup showdown • Saudi Arabia, Qatar, FIFA, and Donald Trump They also discuss immigration, national identity, the future of the World Cup, and what the world's most popular sport can teach us about today's geopolitical landscape. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. New episodes drop weekly — follow The Long Game on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1850526014 Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for exclusive video content, transcripts, and more. This week, paid subscribers will receive a special mailbag segment where Jake and Jon answer listener questions. Follow The Long Game on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podlonggame TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podlonggame Chapter Titles: 00:00 U.S.-Iran Tensions and the 2026 World Cup 01:01 Franklin Foer on Why Soccer Explains the World 03:21 Pelé, Brazil, and Henry Kissinger 06:37 Nationalism, Identity, and Global Politics 09:08 What Changed Since How Soccer Explains the World? 13:43 The Politics of a Potential U.S.-Iran Matchup 18:19 Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Sportswashing 23:05 Is the World Cup Losing Its Appeal? 25:32 Immigration, Borders, and the 2026 World Cup 28:03 Trump, FIFA, and the Politics of Soccer 36:00 Does Soccer Reflect National Character? 39:02 Ukraine, Italy, and the Next Book Foer Would Write 41:21 Jake and Jon Reflect on the Conversation #WorldCup2026 #FIFAWorldCup #Soccer #Football #FranklinFoer #HowSoccerExplainsTheWorld #Geopolitics #Globalization #Nationalism #InternationalRelations #Politics #WorldAffairs #USIran #FIFA #thelonggame Photo credits: - (Original Caption) Miami, Florida: Head and shoulders portrait of the New York Cosmos soccer sensation Pele standing on the field in New York Cosmos uniform. The crowd can be seen in the background. (Photo by: Gettman/Getty Images) - Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (L) gets together for a farewell hug with Pele in the locker room prior to start of game here 10/1. Pele will play his last game before retiring back to Brazil against his old team the Santos. (Photo by: Gettman/Getty Images) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) and US President Donald Trump pose during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025. Trump landed in Egypt on October 13 for a summit on Gaza, following a lightning visit to Israel after a ceasefire he brokered entered into force (Photo by Yoan VALAT / POOL / AFP) (Photo by YOAN VALAT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) - EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 13: Reece James #24 of Chelsea FC celebrates with the FIFA Club World Cup trophy with Robert Sanchez #1 after their team's victory as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)