World Cup Football etc

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Danish Sports Journalist Mikkel Bruun Christensen

Jon Bonfiglio interviews Mikkel Bruun Christensen about Danish football, failing to qualify for the World Cup, the 'Danish Dynamite' team of 1986 and much more. Christensen has just released a book (in Danish) called: "World Cup - How the world's biggest sporting event became the world's biggest power game". The book explores the dark side of football and tells the story of how the leather ball has become entangled in a web of corruption, control and political cynicism. But also of its unmistakable power to unite. For better or worse. https://www.saxo.com/dk/vm-i-fodbold_bog_9788785372123?srsltid=AfmBOoq4oIcxXdubVrVxLUYnjq2eOtm2Yqq7L9jgk0AfUjIMyf0URs32

DISCUSSION: Neymar; Ronaldo; Messi; Neuer; Modric - Will '26 be the Tournament of the Masters, or the Has-Beens?

Declan Link, Paul Schmidt-Troschke & Jon Bonfiglio come together to discuss the surprising and not-so-surprising selections of some of football's ageing stars for the 2026 finals.  To follow our Patreon page for exclusive series on international topics, copy and paste the link below: https://tinyurl.com/FriendsofWorldSportsetcPatreon

NEWS: Germany's No.1

Paul Schmidt-Trochke with the remarkable news that Manuel Neuer has returned to the role of Germany's No.1.  To follow our Patreon page for exclusive series on international topics, copy and paste the link below: https://tinyurl.com/FriendsofWorldSportsetcPatreon

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Mexican Superfan Mario Paúl Pfeiffer - Part Two

Paul Schmidt-Troschke speaks to Mario Paúl Pfeiffer, a walking encyclopedia on Mexican sports, about wide-ranging topics, including the upcoming tournament.  To follow our Patreon page for exclusive series on international topics, copy and paste the link below: https://tinyurl.com/FriendsofWorldSportsetcPatreon

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Haiti's Hopes and Dreams, with Jean-Ricardo Compere

In this excerpt from a longer discussion on Haiti's hopes and dreams for the World Cup, Paul Schmidt-Troschke & Jon Bonfiglio speak to Haitian entrepreneur Jean-Ricardo Compere for his perspective. The full episode is available on the World Cup Football Etc/World Sports Etc Patreon page:  https://tinyurl.com/FriendsofWorldSportsetcPatreon