Recep Tayyip Erdogan Has Met His Match
Turkey’s soccer-obsessed president is engaging in a last-ditch effort to help his party hold on to power in Istanbul. Can Ekrem Imamoglu beat him at his own game?
Scott Morrison Won Australia’s Election Against All Odds. It Shouldn’t Have Come as a Surprise.
The Australian Labor Party made the same mistakes that have led to failure for center-left leaders across the globe—and the right is reaping the benefits.
Don’t Blame Soccer’s ‘Jewish’ Teams for Anti-Semitism
Hateful chants were notably absent when Tottenham played Ajax—but opponents of the two self-proclaimed Jewish teams routinely pelt them with neo-Nazi slogans.
FIFA Cares About Cash, Not Players
By allowing a refugee soccer player to remain stranded in Thailand, soccer’s governing body is scoring another own goal.
How a WWII-Era Chant Found Its Way to World Cup 2018
Symbols have power, even in soccer. Just ask Croatia.
Putin Doesn’t Care about Sex Trafficking
Russia could have done something to prevent sexual exploitation of foreign women during the World Cup. It chose not to.
Read FP’s Coverage of the 2018 World Cup
War is politics by other means — and so is the World Cup.
Peru’s National Identity Was Bound Up With Conflict and Corruption for Decades — Then It Qualified for the World Cup.
On our podcast, how a country scores two goals in the soccer tournament and finds redemption.
Croatia’s Soccer Stars Should Be Heroes. Instead, They’re Hated.
A corruption scandal involving the country’s top club and the national team’s captain has enraged Croatian fans.
Russia’s Muslim Strongman Is Winning the World Cup
Ramzan Kadyrov is using sports diplomacy to bolster his image.
If Trump Tears Up NAFTA, Sports Will Keep North America Together
The joint 2026 World Cup is yet another sign that Canada, Mexico, and the United States are becoming increasingly culturally and economically interdependent.
The Scramble for Africa’s Athletes
Shady sports agents have taken a page from human traffickers. They’re luring young men to Europe with promises of fame and exploiting them instead.
What Would Happen if Terrorists Attacked the Super Bowl With Drones?
Small unmanned aircraft are a threat to high-profile events, but taking them down safely is almost impossible.
The Olympics Will Only Make the Korea Crisis Worse
The founder of the games dreamed of inspiring world peace. He created an event that's always done the opposite.
Baseball’s Billion-Person Cactus League
Gift Ngoepe was the first African-born player to make it to the big show. Major League Baseball is betting he won't be the last.
Russia Denies Its Soccer Players Are Doped Up
Authorities are looking into whether every member of Russia’s 2014 team was on performance enhancing drugs.
Warriors’ Championship Cheers Hearts in Faraway Georgia
Tbilisi is thrilled Zaza Pachulia and his supporting cast won an NBA title.
In the Kingdom of Dying Ponies
Polo, the sport of kings, hails from the forgotten, violent state of Manipur, India. Can anyone save its endangered, fabled horses?
Iceland’s Historic Baby Boom Comes Nine Months After Surprise Euro Cup 2016 Win
Feel free to do the math.
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