America's Cup

It’s finally here. On Thursday afternoon, Mexico and South Africa will kick off in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. There are now signs of life: teams and fans are arriving, settling into their base camps, dealing with the heat, touring new environments… even baptizing planes . There is World Cup buzz in America. But fans are still locked out of matches due to unaffordable prices, and out...

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends athletic activity should cease at 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius). But this weekend, temperatures will surge past 90°F (32°C) in Dallas and Houston. And we’re only in May. It’s fair to say many—if not most—matches this summer will be played in extreme heat . It’s just one of the climate concerns at this year’s World Cup. Some teams got...

Even at the best of times, highly populated mega-events are a public safety concern. Much more so at a paranoid moment when the host nation is at war, has a fair share of geopolitical enemies and a history of gun violence, plus an abundance of natural disaster hotspots. Way back in episode 1 of this podcast series—way back in September!—Talib welcomed former DHS staffer Juliette Kayyem to talk abo...

Last week, when the tiny island nation of Cape Verde chose Tampa, Florida as their team base camp, 48 of 48 of those camps were finalized. These FIFA-approved camps—training facilities and accommodations—are now set all over the country, from Boston (France), to Nashville (Japan), to Mesa, Arizona (Turkey), to San Diego (Switzerland and New Zealand). Securing camps was a months-long process, with...

There may be no nation facing the brute force of a combination of America’s harshest policies in 2026, from visa bans to ICE raids, quite as much as Haiti. Pair that with being the recipient of Donald Trump’s most unfounded rhetoric, including that Haitians in Ohio were eating cats and dogs . Yet, Haiti has qualified for the second World Cup ever, and the first in 52 years. Lots of Haitian support...

Almost exactly a year ago, journalist Beau Duré wrote an article for The Guardian titled “The US men’s national team aren’t just underachievers; they’re unlikeable.” A year on, he hasn’t budged from that stance. It’s something Talib has been thinking about as the U.S. has increasingly antagonized the rest of the world in the past year. But it’s a strange contrast to be the bully off the soccer fie...

The World Cup hasn’t traditionally been a favorite event for U.S. sports bettors. But as North America prepares to host, the gambling landscape is a lot different. Since 2018, sports betting has been legal, and 10% of Americans partake. Punters may wage $1.5 billion on the tournament this summer. Then there’s been the inescapable emergence of prediction markets: on the face of it, simply another f...

Nothing quite beats a good hotel , but I’m also a huge fan of short-term rentals—basically, Airbnbs. They can be quirky, unique, and off the beaten path, often with kind and hospitable hosts. It’s a way to truly immerse in a locality. It seems like many World Cup travelers are thinking about Airbnb-ing it. While some hotels are panicking around lower-than-expected occupancy, Airbnb is optimistic a...

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 pro...

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 immedia...

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 wil...

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. Ci...

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 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 insta...

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. Jour...

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 Men...

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...

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 compell...

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...

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 C...

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-profil...