The World’s Cup Is Coming to Trump’s America, with Roger Bennett

The World’s Cup Is Coming to Trump’s America, with Roger Bennett

From Channels with Peter Kafka by Vox Media Podcast Network

March 4, 2026 · 40 min

About this episode

Roger Bennett discusses the upcoming World Cup in the U.S. and its implications amidst current American politics.

The World Cup is coming to the U.S (and Canada, and Mexico) in less than 100 days. Perhaps you’re an American who doesn’t care about soccer, and has given this news zero thought. That won’t be an option when the games arrive, says Roger Bennett. The CEO of the Men in Blazers podcast network — and author of “We Are the World (Cup)”, a personal history of the tournament — tells me this won’t be like anything we’ve seen here; even for old timers like me, who can remember the 1994 edition, which the U.S. also hosted. This time around, Roger predicts, we are going to feel the “global eclipse” of attention the games generate, and will be astonished when places like Kansas City and Seattle turn into temporary versions of Argentina and the Netherlands. Even if you don’t watch a single second of a single game, you won’t be able to ignore it. The other thing you won’t be able to ignore: The fact that America is hosting the world at the same time it is telling much of the world to pound sand. What happens if/when “America First” politics, visas, and Homeland Security become part of the tournament’s story? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Peter Kafka

Guest: Roger Bennett

Topics covered

  • World Cup
  • soccer
  • American politics
  • global events
  • sports culture

Keywords

  • World Cup
  • Roger Bennett
  • soccer
  • America First
  • sports
  • Kansas City
  • Seattle
  • Men in Blazers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Men in Blazers

Books & works: We Are the World (Cup)

Places: U.S., Canada, Mexico, Kansas City, Seattle

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