About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of the World Cup on U.S. infrastructure and urban development.
With the World Cup coming to North America, millions of visitors will encounter more than stadiums and soccer. They’ll also encounter the transportation systems, infrastructure gaps, and car-dependent development patterns that shape daily life in U.S. cities. Norm Van Eeden Petersman talks with Chuck Marohn and Rick Cole about “catastrophic money,” the danger of building for spectacle instead of long-term value, and what major events reveal about the places that host them. These visitors will move on when the games are over, but the systems they struggled with will still be ours to live with. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "The U.S. campaigned to host the World Cup. Now soccer fans will trade their countries’ train system for the U.S.’s ‘D’ rated infrastructure" by Catherine Gioino, Fortune.com (May 2026) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Chuck Marohn (LinkedIn) Rick Cole (LinkedIn) Articles Mentioned and Downzone: Just a thought: a Texas based World Cup (Article) The Mission: CIA in the 21st Century by Tim Weiner The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace by Tim Pat Coogan Only Murders in the Building (Site) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom. This podcast is made…
People in this episode
Host: Norm Van Eeden Petersman
Guests: Chuck Marohn, Rick Cole
Topics covered
- World Cup
- infrastructure
- transportation systems
- urban development
- long-term value
- spectacle events
Keywords
- World Cup
- infrastructure
- transportation
- urban planning
- spectacle
- U.S. cities
- catastrophic money
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Strong Towns
Books & works: The Mission: CIA in the 21st Century, The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace, Only Murders in the Building
Places: North America
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