World Cup | The World Cup and the New World Order | 3

World Cup | The World Cup and the New World Order | 3

June 29, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 159

About this episode

The episode explores the intersection of football and political power, examining how the sport has been used by nations and regimes throughout history.

What turns a football team into a country's most powerful weapon? How does a game invented to entertain end up laundering the reputations of dictators? And when seventy years of European control collapsed in a single afternoon's vote — who took the game, and what did they want with it? From the sunlit genius of Brazil in 1970 to a backroom ballot in Frankfurt, Peter and Afua track the moment football slips out of European hands — and everyone, from newly free nations to military juntas, lunges to grab it. Join Legacy Plus for bonus episodes, early access, Q&A's, fewer adverts and more. legacy.supportingcast.fm [0:00] The greatest team ever to play — and the regime that basked in them [3:56] Apartheid South Africa digs in while the rest of the world breaks free [8:34] The Brazilian swimmer who saw what Europe refused to [13:30] Mexico 1970: sunshine, colour TV, and football reborn as carnival [15:30] England's captain, accused of nicking a bracelet in Bogotá [18:38] Pelé becomes the most famous man alive — for a government that tortures [22:17] Zaire arrive, the leopard-print rebellion begins [30:52] One vote in Frankfurt ends seventy years of European rule Stay connected with…

People in this episode

Hosts: Peter, Afua

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brazil, Apartheid South Africa, Zaire

Places: Frankfurt

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