# 437: World Cup History & What's Ahead - With Clemente Lisi

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Podcast: [Good Seats Still Available](https://stenobird.com/podcast/good-seats-still-available-7112953)
Published: 2026-03-15T23:03:20+00:00
Episode link: https://goodseatsstillavailable.libsyn.com/placeholder-372
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/good-seats-still-available-7112953/episodes/437-world-cup-history-what-s-ahead-with-clemente-lisi
Duration seconds: 5596

## Resource

This week, we dive into the remarkable history — and uncertain future — of soccer's greatest spectacle: the FIFA World Cup . Our guest is veteran journalist and soccer author Clemente Lisi , whose newly updated (and eminently essential!) book, " The World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition ," chronicles the tournament's extraordinary evolution from its modest beginnings in 1930 to the globe-spanning mega-event it is today. Drawing on decades of reporting and interviews, Lisi revisits some of the competition's most iconic matches, legendary players, and defining moments — from Pelé and Diego Maradona to the modern era of global superstars — that helped transform the World Cup into the most widely watched sporting event on the planet. But the conversation doesn't stop with history. With the 2026 edition — expanded to 48 teams for the first time — set to be hosted across the United States , Canada , and Mexico , we also explore whether the tournament could face unexpected headwinds. Sky-high ticket prices have already sparked backlash from fans and even US lawmakers -- while debates over immigration policy, visa access for international supporters, and rising infrastructure costs for host cities could complicate what should be a global celebration. Will the largest World Cup ever staged ignite a new era for soccer in North America — or expose the growing tensions between the sport's worldwide popularity and the economics of modern mega-events? We explore the past, present, and future scenarios of the World Cup in a wide-ranging conversation with one of the sport's most thoughtful chroniclers. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee : https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store : http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE B…

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