Why Everyone Cares About This World Cup
The Daily
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.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sou.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
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Raw Description
<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Tariq Panja, a global sports correspondent at The New York Times, explains the magic and the complexity of this moment.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/tariq-panja" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Tariq Panja</strong></a>, a global sports correspondent at The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>Iran’s team was eliminated over the weekend, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/28/us/iran-eliminated-world-cup.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ending a politically charged odyssey</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/us/boston-scotland-soccer-tartan-army.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Scottish fans in Boston</a> charmed the locals.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images, via Reuters</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>nytimes.com/thedaily</strong></a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>
Show Notes
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.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sou.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Raw Description
<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Tariq Panja, a global sports correspondent at The New York Times, explains the magic and the complexity of this moment.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/tariq-panja" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Tariq Panja</strong></a>, a global sports correspondent at The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>Iran’s team was eliminated over the weekend, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/28/us/iran-eliminated-world-cup.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ending a politically charged odyssey</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/us/boston-scotland-soccer-tartan-army.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Scottish fans in Boston</a> charmed the locals.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images, via Reuters</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>nytimes.com/thedaily</strong></a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>