Our Copa is a limited series covering the pivotal political moments that took place throughout history on the soccer fields of the World Cup through a pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian lens.
Produced by Lauren Hust at Public Square Media and VALOR Media Network in partnership with Meidas Defense.
The U.S. Women's Soccer Team's Winning Fight for Equal Pay (ft. Crystal Dunn)
Host Merritt Mathias and guest Crystal Dunn discuss the U.S. Women's Soccer Team's fight for equal pay and its global impact.
30 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Troubles on the Pitch of Northern Ireland
Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and Julio Ricardo Varela explore how religious and political tensions impacted Northern Ireland's soccer players and stadiums.
23 Jun 2026
Political Dissent and Economic Collapse at Mexico's 1986 World Cup
In 1986, on the heels of an economic crisis and an earthquake that severely disrupted Mexican infrastructure and civilian life, the country moved forward as hosts of the 13th FIFA World Cup, an event defined by the friction between celebration of a sport foundational to the Mexican identity and a period of intense regional strife.
Our Copa is hosted by Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and Julio Ricardo Varela
Produced by Emma Foley and executive produced by Carrie Tolles and Clarke Sondermann of TCB PR with support from Working Families Power and Mijente Support Committee.
Brought to you and edited by Valor Media, featuring music by Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo and graphics by Caroline Spire
For more information on how to organize around this year’s World Cup and to find an event near you, visit www.ourcopa.com
Follow us on Instagram:
@ourcopa26
@okwonga
@julito77
@merrmerr9
18 Jun 2026
BONUS: Justin Salhani on Creating Refugee Soccer Leagues
Host Musa Okwonga is joined by friend and Al Jazeera journalist Justin Salhani to discuss building community and solidarity among refugee populations through the creation of soccer leagues. With Socrates and The Corinthian Democracy as inspiration, Justin looks to the field to create a microcosm of the political dreams he hopes to see realized more broadly.
Our Copa is hosted by Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and Julio Ricardo Varela
Produced by Emma Foley and executive produced by Carrie Tolles and Clarke Sondermann of TCB PR with support from Working Families Power and Mijente Support Committee.
Brought to you and edited by Valor Media, featuring music by Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo and graphics by Caroline Spire
For more information on how to organize around this year’s World Cup and to find an event near you, visit www.ourcopa.com
Follow us on Instagram:
@ourcopa26
@okwonga
@julito77
@merrmerr9
16 Jun 2026
The Corinthians: An Experiment in Democracy
In the early 1980's, under military dictatorship, the Brazilian soccer team led by footballer Socrates created a microcosm of democracy that valued the opinions of all players and team management equally. The movement would cement Brazilian soccer as a breeding ground for political experimentation, idealism, and action.
Our Copa is hosted by Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and Julio Ricardo Varela
Produced by Emma Foley and executive produced by Carrie Tolles and Clarke Sondermann of TCB PR with support from Working Families Power and Mijente Support Committee.
Brought to you and edited by Valor Media, featuring music by Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo and graphics by Caroline Spire
For more information on how to organize around this year’s World Cup and to find an event near you, visit www.ourcopa.com
Follow us on Instagram:
@ourcopa26
@okwonga
@julito77
@merrmerr9
9 Jun 2026
How a Banned Soccer Team Helped Free a Nation
Join Merritt, Musa, and Julio as they discuss the underground Algerian soccer team that fought for liberation from France and helped win the Algerian war.
Our Copa is hosted by Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and Julio Ricardo Varela
Produced by Emma Foley and executive produced by Carrie Tolles and Clarke Sondermann of TCB PR with support from Working Families Power and Mijente Support Committee.
Brought to you and edited by Valor Media, featuring music by Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo and graphics by Caroline Spire
For more information on how to organize around this year’s World Cup and to find an event near you, visit www.ourcopa.com
Follow us on Instagram:
@ourcopa26
@okwonga
@julito77
@merrmerr9
2 Jun 2026
How Mussolini Turned the World Cup Into Propaganda
On Our Copa’s pilot episode, Julio, Musa, and Merritt explore the political exploitation of soccer for authoritarian gains, the ongoing impact of boycotts, and the modern parallels to the second ever world cup.Our Copa is hosted by Merritt Mathias, Musa Okwonga, and Julio Ricardo VarelaProduced by Emma Foley and executive produced by Carrie Tolles and Clarke Sondermann of TCB PR with support from Working Families Power and Mijente Support Committee.Brought to you and edited by Valor Media, featuring music by Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo and graphics by Caroline SpireFor more information on how to organize around this year’s World Cup and to find an event near you, visit www.ourcopa.comFollow us on Instagram:@ourcopa26@okwonga@julito77 @merrmerr9
1 Jun 2026
Our Copa Trailer
Welcome to Our Copa! From the 1934 World Cup under Mussolini's Italian rule to the Algerian Independence movement in the late 1950s, from the Corinthian democracy in 1980s Brazil to religious fracture on the pitches of Northern Ireland, from the 1986 Cup in Mexico to the historic fight for equal pay by the U.S. Women's Soccer team — We’ll traverse time and space to visit the fields where hope and joy punctured the tyranny of empire.
Inside a recent episode
The U.S. Women's Soccer Team's Winning Fight for Equal Pay (ft. Crystal Dunn)
Published 7 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Women's National Team feel more comfortable pursuing motherhood alongside their playing career because there are so many more... safeguards in place to make sure that, you know, you announce you're pregnant. All of a sudden it's like, you're not supported, all your resources go away and things like that. […]
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