Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
WATCH: Why the World Cup is a 'festival of joy' despite the drama
Posted
July 17, 2026
Views
2,663
Likes
45
Engagement
1.69%
July 17, 2026
2,663
45
1.69%
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1:24Now PlayingThe FIFA World Cup is a "festival of joy," sports journalist Simon Kuper says.
"It's a party that unites the whole world," he told PBS News' Geoff Bennett. "Everyone is watching, almost everyone shares the love and appreciation of great soccer. Everybody appreciates the drama."
"There is corruption and greed and political manipulation, but there's also enormous beauty and joy," he added.
Kuper, author of “World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments," joined Bennett for the latest episode of PBS News' podcast, Settle In. They discussed the World Cup, the politics of FIFA and more.
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