Zeteo: The Dark Side of the World Cup

The Real Winner of the World Cup? FIFA

Mehdi Hasan — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 13:01:01 GMT

As the World Cup draws to a close, all eyes are on Spain and Argentina. But whether we like it or not, our eyes will also be diverted to Donald Trump. For the first time all tournament, Trump will be in attendance for a match. And as we know from last year’s Club World Cup and U.S. Open, as well as last month’s NBA Finals, when Trump shows up to a sports event, the story inevitably becomes about him.

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Trump’s far-right pal, Argentine President Javier Milei was expected to be in attendance on Sunday too, and together they would have presented the trophy to Lionel Messi and his teammates in the case of an Argentina win. Thankfully, we’ve been spared the possibility of a Milei-Trump joint appearance because of Milei’s superstitions.

Still, a win will provide a boost to Milei, and for Trump, the final will mark the culmination of an event that’s served as a distraction from his various crimes and misdeeds. FIFA allowing authoritarian leaders to use the World Cup to their benefit is an age-old story – one we’ve documented throughout this three-part series, dating back to Italy under Benito Mussolini during the 1934 tournament.

As the New Yorker’s Ishaan Tharoor puts it, that tournament was “a wonderful showcase for Italy…a showcase for the preeminence and prowess of its fascist regime.”

Join Mehdi, Ishaan, Political Scientist Jules Boykoff, and FIFA whistleblower Bonita Mersiades for a timely unpacking of the dark side of this incredibly cherished international tournament, and FIFA’s role in it.

Paid subscribers can watch the full episode. Free subscribers can watch a 1-minute preview. Become a paid subscriber to Zeteo today to support the work we’re doing and to get access to all our premium content!

Check out the other episodes from ‘The Dark Side of the World Cup’:

FIFA Has a Dark History of Covering for Fascists – And Trump Is No Exception

Mehdi Hasan — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:02:32 GMT

FIFA and fascism go hand-in-hand.

Yes, you read that right. The organizer of the World Cup has historically been complicit in legitimizing authoritarian regimes and helping distract from their crimes – a phenomenon commonly known as “sportswashing.”

Just take a look at the 1934 World Cup. And the 1978 World Cup… Oh, and the 2026 World Cup.

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In the second episode of Zeteo’s three-part video series, “The Dark Side of the World Cup,” Mehdi walks through these three World Cups – which respectively take place under Italy’s Benito Mussolini, Argentina’s junta leader Jorge Videla, and the U.S.’s Donald Trump – to connect the dots and highlight how FIFA helped these authoritarians cover up their crimes.

Plus, Mehdi breaks down the controversies around the Russia- and Qatar-hosted World Cups and digs into the double standards when it comes to the lack of media coverage on the U.S.’s own controversies.

Paid subscribers can watch the full video above, while free subscribers can access a two-minute preview. Consider upgrading your subscription to access this full series and all Zeteo has to offer.

And if you haven’t caught up already, check out Episode 1 here.

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⚽🏆 The Dark Side of The World Cup: Episode 1

Team Zeteo — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:28:47 GMT

Millions around the world are getting ready for the most-watched sporting event on the planet – the FIFA World Cup, which will be mostly taking place in the United States.

Though World Cups tend to create a festival atmosphere associated with joy and excitement, the darker forces operating behind the scenes tend only to be highlighted when the tournament is happening in certain parts of the world.

At Zeteo, we feel it’s important to talk about the sinister side of the World Cup wherever it’s happening. That’s what makes us, us. So, over the coming weeks, we’re going to take you on a journey through ‘The Dark Side of the World Cup’ – full of history, scandal and absurdity – in three investigative deep-dives.

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Our first episode? ‘The Long Trump Shadow’

US President Donald Trump holds the World Cup Trophy on Aug. 22, 2025. Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/ AFP via Getty Images

We have to start this year’s tournament with Donald Trump, who is using the World Cup to feed his ego (no surprise!) but also to distract us from his various misdeeds and crimes behind the scenes.

Don’t miss out on Episode 1, in which Mehdi breaks down how Trump has made the tournament all about himself with the aid of experts who unpack FIFA’s complicity, the Western world’s hypocrisy, and how ICE might play a dark role at this tournament.

There’s no better way to get ready for the World Cup than to understand what’s been happening in the circles of power around it.

Paid subscribers can watch the full episode, without a paywall, above.

Free subscribers can watch a 3-minute preview. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to Zeteo to watch the full episode, the next two episodes, and all of the rest of Zeteo’s award-winning and original content.

Let us know what you thought in the comments! And stay tuned for Episodes 2 and 3 coming very soon.

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