kicker Daily - Der Fußball-News Podcast · kicker

Die USA, der Krieg und der Fußball: WM-Spezial mit Klaus Brinkbäumer

·37 min·3 clips

Journalist Klaus Brinkbäumer reveals how Trump's erratic politics could disrupt the 2026 World Cup in North America.

1. Kicker Daily dedicates a special episode to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, recorded on March 18th. 2. Guest Klaus Brinkbäumer is a journalist, author, and co-host of the podcast OK America; his new book 'Der amerikanische Albtraum: Faschismus made in USA' was published by Fischer Verlag. 3. The episode's central question is whether the political climate under Trump can allow the North American World Cup to function as originally intended. 4. Brinkbäumer describes US football fandom as deeply split: Latin American immigrant communities and their children are passionate fans, while conservative white Trump supporters largely have no interest in the sport. 5. He notes Inter Miami's stadium produces a near-European atmosphere, and that football's popularity among children in the US is heavily underestimated in Germany. 6. On the US-Iran war, Brinkbäumer assigns Iran a 40% probability of participating in the World Cup, contingent on the US declaring victory and withdrawing before June. 7. He warns Trump may issue last-minute entry restriction guidelines affecting fans from multiple nations, and could deploy ICE or the National Guard to Democratic-controlled host cities during match weeks. 8. The Super Bowl in San Francisco with Bad Bunny as halftime performer is cited as a 'general rehearsal,' which passed more peacefully than feared despite Trump's counter-event with Kid Rock. 9. Brinkbäumer explains that Trump evaluates every political action by its television value and whether it can be framed as his personal victory, citing Trump asking 'it was good TV, wasn't it?' after the Oval Office confrontation with Zelensky. 10. The military seizure of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro on his own territory is described as illegal under international law but 'Thriller-genre' media-effective by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. 11. Canada-US relations are described as extremely damaged after Prime Minister Carney's Davos speech calling for an alliance of middle powers without the US, which prompted Trump to disinvite Carney from his 'peace council.' 12. Mexico-US relations are described as tense over migration and drug cartel policy but less poisonous than the Canada situation, with more active diplomatic channels. 13. Mexico is characterized as fragile, with recent narco violence near tourist areas after the killing of drug lord El Mencho, though Brinkbäumer considers outright tourist-targeting still unlikely. 14. Brinkbäumer opposes the idea of a German World Cup boycott raised by FC St. Pauli president Uke Göttlich, arguing boycotts should be reserved for genuine extremes and that the US relationship remains too important. 15. He describes the FIFA-Trump relationship as mutual corruption: FIFA gave Trump an 'absurd peace prize' and Trump provides FIFA with political proximity that benefits the organization. 16. Brinkbäumer's best-case World Cup scenario requires no security incidents, no ICE raids at host venues, and a political atmosphere that allows for tolerance and encounter across differences. 17. For German fans attending Germany's Group Stage match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Brinkbäumer recommends exploring New York's hidden street football scene in Central Park and Prospect Park. 18. He also recommends the Staten Island Ferry at sunrise for the Statue of Liberty view and cycling along the Hudson and East River bike paths to reach stadiums and parks. 19. The episode is an interview format with host Matthias asking probing geopolitical questions and Brinkbäumer providing detailed analytical answers in German. 20. Football fans planning World Cup travel and listeners interested in US politics, Trump's second term, and geopolitics of sport will get the most out of this episode.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from kicker Daily - Der Fußball-News Podcast