States of Play is a podcast about the FIFA World Cup and the world it reflects in 2026.
Through June and July we will look at events as they play out in the U.S, Mexico and Canada, the matches, the teams, the players, and weave them through with the social dynamics, culture and human rights issues that are being played out in parallel.
What and who is Argentina?
A country of 40 million people that define themselves through futbol, a country that has produced two of the greatest players ever, and won the World Cup three times.
How does the political turmoil that seems to have been at the heart of its entire existence and economic disarray that it fell into in the 1980s affect the mindset of the people?
This episode was recorded just before the World Cup final that brought on hate on Argentina across the world, and conspiracy theories inside the country that they were denied another World Cup.
Evan, Jonathan and Piara are joined by a real Argentinian, Diego Murzi, from the University of Sant Maritine, Buenos Aires and Joshua Nadel Professor of History, North Carolina Central University.
A podcast from the Fare network
18 Jul 2026
EP 14: The Final! Predictions and thoughts
The Final is here already as Argentina take on Spain.
The team look back at the semis and make their predictions.
Will Trump make a big deal of interfering? Will he face boos? And can he resist saying who he wants to win and jinxing them?
Features: Evan Whitfield; Jonathan W. Gray; Piara Powar
A podcast from the Fare network
13 Jul 2026
Football talk after the quarter finals
Quarter finals done and a lot of talking points to explore.
Is VAR our collective hate in this World Cup?
Why do referees have their names on their shirts? And why does it feel Argentina are getting a helping hand?
Jude Bellingham is the star of the England team. He is a great player but many people, including Ian Wright and Jonathan, doubt that he will ever get the recognition he deserves.
A podcast from the Fare network.
Features: Evan Whitfield; Prof Jonathan W. Grey; Piara Powar
11 Jul 2026
EP 12: Interfering Trump - No thanks!
The continuing fallout from Balogun and the burning issues of VAR and refereeing.
What happens when Donald Trump inserts himself into a big sporting moment as he does twice this summer.
Talk that FIFA is corrupt is incorrect but Evan makes a call for change at FIFA after the Trump intervention.
Jonathan presents some data on refereeing. Are Argentina getting away with things they shouldn’t be? And the team finish on a discussion of how this tournament has been a good one for the minnows and teams from the global south.
A podcast from the Fare network.
Features: Evan Whitfield; Professor Jonathan W. Gray; and Piara Powar
5 Jul 2026
250 years of the USA
Welcome to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of America.
Two and a half centuries ago George Washington declared independence from British colonisers. We look at what America is, the idea, the reality, who is in and who is out.
And ICE is back with higher targets to meet - 10,000 people were detained in the 5 days upto 1st July.
The goalkeeper’s mother who was helped into the U.S by a Chinese businessman, not as was claimed by a Democratic politician.
Ahead of Belgium’s clash with the USA comments by Belgian coach Rudi Garcia have caused controversy back home.
Jonathan suggests we all read this book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250251091/howtohideanempire/
Features: Evan Whitfield, Jonathan W. Grey, Piara Powar
A podcast by the Fare network
Happy Birthday America!
2 Jul 2026
EP 10: We watched some football!
The World Cup is relentless, and we are loving it. So for this episode we focus on football.
England fumble through against the wonderful DRC; Senegal get undone and lose a two goal lead, devastating; U.S hero Folarin Balogun gets sent off as they defeat Bosnia, a country with 1% of the population of the hosts; and, Côte d’Ivoire go out with Didier Drogba (and Evan) looking to abolish VAR.
As the Dutch and German football associations issue statements about the social media racism directed at their players, Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf looks for accountability.
Features: Evan Whitfield; Professor Jonathan W. Gray; Piara Powar.
A podcast from the Fare network
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1 Jul 2026
EP 9: The cost of failure: Social media racism
The team consider the shocks of Germany and the Netherlands being dumped out of the World Cup by emerging nations.
Pride crushed and national identities dismantled, there is a wider price to be paid, which for black players includes volumes of racial abuse on social media. For others, coaches lose jobs and politicians turn on their teams.
We look at what can be done about social media abuse beyond the usual outrage and calls for action. How to deal with the structural issues of tech platforms that are not interested in change.
There is appreciation for Iran who leave the tournament with dignity and face harsh words to the last.
And a spicy exchange on climate change as Evan and Jonathan rebut Piara’s allegations.
Jonathan recommends two books by Marjane Satrapi Persepolis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_(comics))and Chicken with Plumbs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_with_Plums) who died last month "of a broken heart".
Episode features: Evan Whitfield; Professor Jonathan W. Gray; Piara Powar.
A podcast from the Fare network
29 Jun 2026
EP 8: Pan Africanism and Football
As an idea Pan-Africanism in football shows how colonial history, diaspora and national identity shape who players represent and what fans feel.
We are joined by commentator Tosin Makinde who makes an exhilarating argument for the future strength of African teams. He also argues that the players who are here with countries that were the former colonisers of their origin nations are highly aware of the histories that made them.
The team discuss the backslash against South Africa among African football fans everywhere. The xenophobia, threats and violence in South Africa means that their fellow Africans have turned their back. Can this lack of support be a moment of realisation for politicians in Pretoria?
Jonathan continues his support for the emerging nations at the World Cup. Evan is exhilarated by the French again. Piara is particularly vexed by the levels of Canadian visa denials.
And admiration all-round for DRC’s super fan and the conversations his presence opens up about Patrice Lumumba.
Jonathan’s film recommendation: ‘Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat’ (https://www.sundance.org/blogs/soundtrack-to-a-coup-detat-political-machinations-in-the-congo/ ), written and directed by Johan Grimonprez.
Episode features: Evan Whitfield; Professor Jonathan W. Gray; Piara Powar; and Tosin Makinde.
A podcast from the Fare network
26 Jun 2026
Ep 7: Queering the World Cup 🌈 Refereeing decisions
Evan conținues his advocacy for Ronaldo and is getting more concerned about refereeing decisions. Are we beginning to see bias in favour of big players and established teams?
Lou Englefield, Chair of Pride House International and the driving force behind Football v Homophobia joins the pod and explores attitudes towards queer visibility in sport. She addresses the perennial issue of why there are no out-players in international football.
We ask how legal attacks from the U.S government on LGBTIQ+ rights are impacting sport.
And the team explores the heteronormativity of the World Cup and celebrate Toronto content creator Uly Morazan who tells us “Who are the hotties!”
Jonathan ends with a book recommendation: ‘Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society’ (https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/male-daughters-female-husbands-9781350507791/ )by Ifi Amadiume.
Features: Evan Whitfield, Professor Jonathan W. Gray, Piara Powar, Lou Englefield
A podcast from the Fare network
24 Jun 2026
Ep 6: New FIFA rule - Big up Jérémy Doku - U.S govt social posts
We discuss the new Vinicius rule and what two well known and influential podcasters have to say about it.
Belgian’s Jérémy Doku has been under fire, as Evan claims he would have done his family planning differently if he was due to play in a World Cup!
FIFA announced numbers for stadium attendance and TV audiences and two U.S government bodies posted contentious posts in support of the U.S team. Is the popularity of the tournament leading the U.S government to get active and use the tournament for their own messaging?
Jonathan ends with a quote from French philosopher Guy Debord
Features: Evan Whitfield, Jonathan W. Gray, Piara Powar
A podcast from the Fare network
In the pod we discuss
‘The French aristocrat and the all-American idiot: Henry v Lalas’ in The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/21/thierry-henry-alexi-lalas-fox-world-cup)
‘The Society of the Spectacle’ by Guy Debord (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guy-Debord/e/B000APVW4I/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1)
19 Jun 2026
Episode 5: Ronaldo, England and Juneteenth
It’s Friday 19th June and it's Juneteenth in the United States, a public holiday to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in Texas and across the U.S.
We look at what Juneteenth means for us and lead on into a discussion about black players in America. Joining us to help do this Andy Williams who played for fief MLS clubs and represnetf Jamaica over 100 times, including at the 1998 World Cup.
The conversation covers the players and U.S development routes, the ties to the college system, and the new generation of internationally coached USMNT players and new academies.
We also talk about online hate and AI fakes that are appearing.
A podcast from the Fare network
Featuring: Evan Whitfield, Professor Jonathan Gray, Piara Powar, Andy Williams
18 Jun 2026
Episode 4: Can the World Cup change U.S politics?
We look at the impact U.S Visa restrictions are having on players and teams.
We salute Singh’s World Cup debut for New Zealand, appreciate the love for Algeria in Kansas, and celebrate the beauty of the score-draw.
And then we explore a political fantasy and consider if the World Cup can change politics in the United States.
And Evan just can’t give up on the commercial breaks!
A podcast from the Fare network
Featuring: Professor Jonathan W. Gray, Evan Whitfield, Piara Powar
15 Jun 2026
Episode 3: Looking forward to FRANCE v SENEGAL and 🏀 New York belongs to the Knicks!
Bing- Bong! Wild celebrations in New York City for the Knicks first title win in 53 years.
We look forward to France v Senegal, the first match-up featuring a former colonial power against a former colony of the 2026 World Cup.
We are joined by William Gaillard to look at the French team and the secret of their talent machine. And Jonathan celebrates Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry on U.S TV. Evan can’t contain his joy.
A podcast from the Fare network
13 Jun 2026
Episode 2: MEXICO VIBES! Dual nationality players and displacement
As the World Cup finally kicked off in Mexico City we explore the feelings a World Cup brings on as Evan and Piara get emotional.
Our big issue of the day is dual nationality. We look at Bosnia, Germany and Turkey, the U.S and Mexico, Luka Modric, Italy, Haiti and Japan.
Why do players change nationality? Does adversity through displacement create talent? Does a national team have to look like a country?
A podcast from the Fare network.
11 Jun 2026
EPISODE 1 - The World Cup is here!
A big World Cup accompanied by big human rights issues. The U.S is now a country in which nothing is apolitical, and the World Cup is no different. The Trump administration seem fixated on flexing their muscles through immigration and entry policies that have already set the tone. What else is to come?
And then Evan, Piara and Jonathan get down to the soccer. Why does Haiti capture the imagination of so many, why England need to win and what Evan worries about with Team U.S success.
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11 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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