On today’s broadcast episode of The People’s Game, we discuss the socio-economic, political and cultural issues surrounding the 2014 Men’s World Cup Soccer Tournament in Brazil, in the wake of Brazil stunning 7-1 defeat by Germany.
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On today’s podcast, we talk about one of the most stunning results, perhaps in the entire history of national spectator sports. Alan and Meleiza try to process Brazil’s shocking 1-7 defeat to Germany, on its home soil in Belo Horizonte. Later in the hour, Alan speaks with Pablo Miralles about USA vs Germany and what it’s like to experience soccer in Shanghai, China; and KPFK’s Margaret Prescod continues her conversations with Coach Mickey.
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The world is in shock, and so are we – so much so that we need an extra podcast to make sense of today’s Mineracanazo – a stunning 7-1 defeat of the Brazilian national team, on home soil, in the World Cup semifinal against Germany. In this bonus podcast we feature an extended conversation with Francesco, an activist living in Brasilia, in which we unpack how we got to today’s result, and what the political economy of contemporary global soccer might have to do with it.
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On today’s podcast, we speak to Teo Ballvé in Bogota, Colombia, who relates the experience of being in a country whose team captured the imagination of the world. Miguel Paredes of the Futbolistas discusses the radical fútbol culture of Southern California, the world’s most ethnically diverse metropolitan area. Alan and Meleiza discuss the political contradictions of Alfredo di Stefano’s brilliant football legacy, and look forward to tomorrow’s Brazil-Germany semifinal.
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With a couple of days off until the semifinals, Alan and Meleiza mourn the underdogs, but also celebrate the radical traditions of the four soccer powerhouses left standing: Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Germany. We also speak with Costa Rican/Mexican fan David Orona on Costa Rica’s magisterial performance, and Karen Anzoategui, who watched the Argentina/Belgium quarterfinal live at the Estadio Nacional in Brasília. Finally, we feature our extended conversation with Laurent Dubois on the broader context of the 2014 World Cup.
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As a transnational organizing body with tremendous influence on governments and development initiatives, FIFA has been called a “neoliberal Trojan Horse.”
This graphic, from the TPP Media March, calls attention to the connections between the world spectacle of the World Cup and the transnational free-trade agreements being pushed all over the world, at great cost to millions of people who are poor and struggling in the affected countries. Find out more at TPP Media March
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High drama at the World Cup quarterfinals continue as Argentina prevail over Belgium, losing Angel di Maria in the process, and Costa Rica takes the Netherlands all the way to penalties. Alan and Meleiza review today’s action, say goodbye to the last “underdog” team left standing, and look forward to the semifinals. Then, KPFK’s Margaret Prescod has an extended conversation about soccer and the World Cup with Coach Mickey.
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As Argentina heads into the semifinal, we give props to the great former Argentinian team captain, Javier Zanetti. Always a friend of the people, Zanetti famously demonstrated his support for the Zapatistas in Mexico, and organized his teammates at Inter Milan to send money and goods to autonomous communities in Chiapas.
In response, EZLN leader Subcomandante Marcos wrote Zanetti in 2005 and invited Inter to a friendly match, which unfortunately was never realized. Especially in the wake of his country’s economic crisis in 2001, Zanetti has been a powerful critic of neoliberal globalization, and has set up social initiatives in poor countries to help the people who are suffering from its effects.
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Today’s Podcast: Another super-hyper-mega dramatic day at the 2014 World Cup. Germany dominates, Brazil & Colombia play one for the ages, and Neymar exits. We review it all, and look forward to tomorrow’s matches. Plus, Meleiza’s brilliant interview with Amazonian scholar Professor Susanna Hecht on the deep history and political ecology of Latin American futbol, as well as the state of indigenous peoples in the Amazon.
