Football special: Russia prepares for the World Cup

·23 min·2 clips

The World Cup begins in Russia amid fears of hooliganism, low visitor numbers, and a sense that international football has been bypassed by the club game.

Host Jonathan Derbyshire opens the episode by noting the 2018 World Cup in Russia begins amid anxieties about hooliganism, low visitor numbers, and a sense that international football has been overshadowed by the club game. He is joined by Gideon Rachman, Murad Ahmed, and Simon Cooper. The panel first addresses whether Russia can run a smooth tournament, referencing the 2014 Sochi Games as a model of efficiency, though questions remain about local enthusiasm and the Russian team's poor form. Politics is highlighted as a key intrusion, with comparisons to Argentina 1978 and discussions of Vladimir Putin potentially using the event for symbolic victory. The conversation shifts to the diplomatic and economic payoffs of hosting, with Murad noting Russia sought more than a coming-out party, while Simon points out stable hosts in recent decades. On the sporting side, the panel debates the quality of play, with Simon arguing globalisation and the Bosman ruling have eroded national styles and surprise, turning the World Cup into a familiar spectacle. They discuss tactical trends, such as deep defending, and England's attempts under Gareth Southgate to adopt a high-pressing style. The episode then explores the 2026 host election, with Murad detailing the close contest between the North American bid and Morocco, where Donald Trump's policies are influencing votes. Personal reflections follow, with panelists sharing favourite World Cup moments, like Gideon recalling Italy's extra-time win over Germany in 2006. Predictions for the 2018 winner include Spain, Germany, and Germany again, with final thoughts on the enduring excitement for younger fans despite the changed landscape.

As heard by us

A measured World Cup preview on Russian organisation, football's changing spectacle, and the long distances between stadiums.

Russia's World Cup opens under familiar pressure: worries over hooliganism, stadiums and practice pitches, lower visitor numbers, and the bigger question of whether international football still commands the same attention beside the club game.

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Why you'd press play

You want Russia's World Cup anxieties, the travel puzzle, and the tournament's shifting appeal in one brisk conversation.

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