The story of Argentina 1978 is not simply a soccer story. It’s also a political story about how authoritarian governments use sports to shape international opinion, project legitimacy, and distract from uncomfortable realities. From 1976 to 1983, Argentina was ruled by a military junta led by Jorge Rafael Videla. During this period, known as the "Dirty War," thousands of … [Read more...] about The Secret World Cup: Argentina 1978
Soccer
South Africa, Mexico, and the Changing World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off soon with a battle between two Group A contenders, Mexico and South Africa. Mexico, a host in 2026, has a deep Cold War connection to FIFA, having hosted two World Cups during the Cold War period, 1970 and 1986. In fact, the 1970 games go down in history. This was the year the tournament introduced the Adidas “Telstar” ball, the first … [Read more...] about South Africa, Mexico, and the Changing World Cup
The Consumerist World Cup: From National Event to Global Media Spectacle
It’s less than two weeks until the first game of the 2026 World Cup, a global sports extravaganza. And oh, how things have changed. Before the 1950s, soccer tournaments were locally financed. There were sponsors and advertisers, but the events were only lightly commercialized. Now, sponsorships are central. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to become the most commercially … [Read more...] about The Consumerist World Cup: From National Event to Global Media Spectacle
GOAL!!!!! The Future is Women
The future is women, said FIFA president Gianni Infantino on his Instagram, And thanks to the fans for supporting what will be the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever! The FIFA World Cup, the world’s most prestigious international soccer tournament, has served as a platform for countries to showcase their athletic prowess, national pride, and cultural heritage for almost a … [Read more...] about GOAL!!!!! The Future is Women
FIFA WORLD CUP SOCCER: COLD WAR GOALLLLLLLLL
Interested in the 2023 Women's World Cup? Click Here. The 2022 FIFA World Cup begins soon with Qatar as host, and it's full of controversy -- Qatar faces Ecuador in the opening game. So, once again, Cold War Studies is turning its focus to The Beautiful Game in the context of the Cold War. Background The first FIFA World Cup, held in 1930, was a 13 team event held in … [Read more...] about FIFA WORLD CUP SOCCER: COLD WAR GOALLLLLLLLL
