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Soccer’s Shadow and Sunlight: the Fascist History of the World Cup and 20 Years of Soccer Without Borders

Karim Zidan and Ben Gucciardi join the show.

Dave Zirin

May 28, 2026

The FIFA World Cup trophy sits inside of a case during the FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour on May 21, 2026. (Isaiah Vazquez – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The Nation Podcasts

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Understanding MAGA as a Social Movement w/ Bill Fletcher Jr. / Fighting Fascism
byThe Nation Magazine

For this Labor Day episode we’re joined by Bill Fletcher, a longtime union organizer who’s spent the last several years working to build out the labor movement’s anti-fascist infrastructure. Bill has an important reminder for those of us who direct most of our anti-fascist energy against Trump and the oligarchy: MAGA isn’t some astroturf trick. It’s a genuine social movement representing some 25-30 percent of Americans, and any strategies that ignore this fact are missing something fundamental about today’s dangerous political reality. You can learn more about Bill's organization, Standing for Democracy, here.

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This week, we talk to Karim Zidan from Sports Politika about his new podcast, Power Plays, which delves into the relationship between authoritarian governments and FIFA’s World Cup. We also talk to Ben Gucciardi on the 20th anniversary of the incredible immigrant and refugee rights children’s organization Soccer Without Borders

Zirin, Dr. Harry Edwards on the NAACP’s Call to Boycott Gerrymandering States

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Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Understanding MAGA as a Social Movement w/ Bill Fletcher Jr. / Fighting Fascism
byThe Nation Magazine

For this Labor Day episode we’re joined by Bill Fletcher, a longtime union organizer who’s spent the last several years working to build out the labor movement’s anti-fascist infrastructure. Bill has an important reminder for those of us who direct most of our anti-fascist energy against Trump and the oligarchy: MAGA isn’t some astroturf trick. It’s a genuine social movement representing some 25-30 percent of Americans, and any strategies that ignore this fact are missing something fundamental about today’s dangerous political reality. You can learn more about Bill's organization, Standing for Democracy, here.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Dave ZirinDave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is the author of a new book, The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.


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