On July 20, the day after Spain saved football by beating Argentina in a dreary final in New Jersey, I did a live interview on Radio 2000 in Cape Town about U.S. perspectives on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We talked about Trump and Infantino, public opinion, Americanization of the World Cup and more.
Click here to listen to my 15-minute conversation with Thabiso Mosia, host of Game On.
I spoke with Sam Turken of WGBH, the NPR station in Boston, about the little-known African boycott of the 1966 World Cup, an event that helps to explain how nine African teams qualified to the round of 32 at this year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Listen to the story here.
The Global Sport Lab at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies just released World Cup: The Syllabus, a free online resource “intended for anyone interested in learning more about the history and politics of the World Cup, curious about some of the current and past controversies, or just wants to understand a little more about why people care so very much about these global events that take place every four years.”
The syllabus features seven thematic sections — FIFA, Migrations, Protest and Resistance, Arts and Culture, Human Rights, Stadiums,Technology — each featuring concise intro essays, curated reading lists, and 4-6 discussion questions to guide reading and exploration.
I am proud to have been part of the project’s editorial team, which worked together flawlessly, almost like Cruyff’s Ajax or Pep Guardiola’s Barça. We hope you enjoy this intellectual journey through the world of global football!
Video recording of my conversation with Prof. Sinfree Makoni and the Q&A on March 6, 2026.
Part of the African Studies Global Virtual Forum: Decoloniality & Southern Epistemologies at Penn State University.
A Congolese Life Story, from Colonialism to Globalization.
Video recording of my presentation at the Our Daily Work, Our Daily Lives seminar series on February 18, 2026:
https://mediaspace.msu.edu/id/1_5znccvbt
Courtesy of MSU Libraries Media.
South African radio host Thabiso Tema interviewed me on his Power FM morning talk show, Power Breakfast, about the controversial “FIFA Peace Award” given to President Trump. The conversation provides a historical perspective on the relationship between World Cup soccer and international politics.
Listen to the interview:
The upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand/Aotearoa will make history: the first co-hosted WWC; first in the southern hemisphere; first with 32 teams; and first with guaranteed prize money for all players.
Historians Jean Williams and Brenda Elsey, and anthropologist Hillary Haldane led a wonderful session on the Football Scholars Forum focused on the politics, economics, culture, and history of the most popular event in women’s football.
Click on the link below to listen to the June 13, 2023, discussion.