What is the World Cup for?
The World Cup was born from imperial rivalry and nationalist aspiration. Almost a century later, it still oscillates between mass hope and elite spectacle.
FIFA
You can’t kick politics out of football
Despite commercialization and elite capture, the world’s most popular sport still generates forms of collective life that resist the logic of capitalism.
Hospitals versus stadiums
As Morocco prepares to host AFCON and the 2030 World Cup, a decentralized youth movement is demanding real investment in public services over sporting spectacle.
It’s Gianni’s world (cup) . . .
On the eve of the kick off of FIFA's newest major tournament, we wonder, who is the Club World Cup for?
FIFA’s double standards
While FIFA swiftly banned Russia from competition, it continues to delay action on Israel — revealing the politics behind football’s so-called neutrality.
The worst thing to happen to football
Gianni Infantino isn’t just another corrupt FIFA president — his greed, self-importance, and political alliances are actively ruining football.
Are corrupt Africans really ruining FIFA?
Of course football administrators in predominantly white countries that aren't Africa have no interest at all in "looking after" their families.
The type of genuine player the world needs to look to
Africa's representatives at the 2015 Women's World Cup are Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. The latter's chances depends a lot on Asisat Oshoala's form.
What would Mandela do
The South African struggle suggests that sports boycotts are effective at forcing change. For white South Africans (and their apologists), sporting isolation was a bitter pill to swallow.
Lilian Thuram’s burden
Why should black players have the burden of calling out racism, while white players don't feel compelled to do the same?
African Footballers in America
The US Major Soccer League is luring foreign players, especially decent African players, and not just those whose careers are on the wane.
National Pride
Cote d'Ivoire is Africa's best team at the moment. FIFA says so. Egypt, the current African champions, are second.