About this episode

Charlie Warzel speaks with Roger Bennett about the World Cup's significance in America and its impact on soccer culture.

Why does the World Cup endure in an age of fractured attention? Is FreddyLA7 a real person? Charlie Warzel speaks with Men in Blazers founder Roger Bennett to chart how the World Cup has become far more than a sporting event and how this year’s tournament marks a turning point for soccer in the United States. They talk about how social media is transforming fandom into an endless thread of storytelling—amplifying goals, celebrations, memes, local rituals, and fan “bits” around the world. On the eve of the final, Bennett breaks down what the World Cup has taught us about national pride, collective memory, and the internet in 2026. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Charlie Warzel

Guest: Roger Bennett

Topics covered

• World Cup
• soccer
• fandom
• social media
• national pride
• collective memory

Keywords

• World Cup
• soccer
• fandom
• social media
• national pride
• Roger Bennett
• Charlie Warzel

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Men in Blazers, The Atlantic

Places: United States

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