We talk to authors Leander Schaerlaeckens and Dr. Vincent Intondi about the World Cup.
Folarin Balogun of USA reacts to the loss after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Lumen Field Seattle, Washington, on July 6, 2026.(Ercin Erturk / Anadolu via Getty Images)
Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin
This week, we speak with Tamryn Spruill, author of the remarkable new book The W: A History of the WNBA. We also talk to Rebecca O’Keeffe, chairperson of Irish Sport for Palestine and a former international basketball player.
Zirin, Irish Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s Refusal to Play Against Israel Puts Him on the Right Side of History
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ireland-gaza-gavin-bazunu-bolton-wanderers/
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This week we speak to sports journalist and author Leander Schaerlaeckens. He has covered the US Men’s National team at four World Cups and is the author of the terrific new book The Long Game U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts.
We also talk to Dr. Vincent Intondi, executive director of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, about how the organization is using the World Cup to reach people politically.
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In Part 6 of our series, Basketball Butterfly Effect, Arya Shirazi joins the show again to discuss the 2009 NBA draft and the Knicks coming close to getting Davidson sharpshooter Steph Curry, the most revolutionary player of his generation. You don’t want to miss this episode!
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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.