Posted on Monday, July 20th, 2026

Controversy has become a recurring feature of FIFA World Cups. In conversation with our own Dr. Alan McDougall, the CBC examines FIFA's varied scandals over the years. Although the World Cup remains the world's premier sporting event, McDougall explains how FIFA's leadership and the current political context have combined to undermine fan's trust in new ways.

Alan has also been talking World Cup with media in Brazil (Valor Econômico) and Chile (El Mercurio) in the past month.

Alan's new book co-authored with Tony Shaw, Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches (Cambridge University Press) also featured this month on the BBC History Extra podcast.