Why Everyone Cares About This World Cup
6/29/202638 min
Two weeks into the World Cup soccer tournament, it has already broken records. It has had its highest attendance ever, and generated the most goals scored in history.
But one of the biggest stories of the tournament is happening off the field as a wave of international visitors encounter America, and Americans encounter them.
Tariq Panja, a global sports correspondent at The New York Times, explains the magic and the complexity of this moment.
Then, Anna Foley, a producer for “The Daily,” talks to two lifelong fans of the Iranian team who discuss the complexity of national pride in the middle of war.
Guest: Tariq Panja, a global sports correspondent at The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Iran’s team was eliminated over the weekend, ending a politically charged odyssey.
- Scottish fans in Boston charmed the locals.
Photo: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images, via Reuters
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Max Unestrand0:11
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Speaker 10:26
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Speaker 3· Soundbite0:32
Messi running inside. Back out it goes. Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi! First career World Cup hat trick ties the all-time goal scoring record.
Natalie Kitroeff· Host0:51
From The New York Times, I'm Natalie Kitroeff. This is The Daily.
Speaker 5· Soundbite0:56
And there it is. Erling Haaland meets the World Cup. The World Cup meets Erling Haaland.
Natalie Kitroeff· Host1:05
Two weeks into the World Cup, the most watched sports event on the planet has already broken records.
Speaker 5· Soundbite1:11
Brilliant from Mbappe. Brilliant. France lead. Magical from France- Hitting its highest attendance ever and generating the most goals scored in history.
Natalie Kitroeff· Host1:24
But one of the biggest stories of the tournament is happening off the field.
Speaker 6· Soundbite1:28
Feel like I've been lied to my entire