Mussolini's trophy + more World Cup stories from Jonathan Wilson
The Road to 2026 continues with a saga-packed history of this famous tournament.
The World Cup is a sporting competition between national football teams to determine the best of them. But it’s always been a vessel for so much more, not least the ambitions of political leaders ranging from the mildly ethical to the downright evil. Host countries want to tell a story about themselves on the global stage, the winners make the case for their own national greatness, and then there are the millions more sagas that nobody planned for.
A new book from — columnist for The Guardian, co-host of the Libero podcast, and local Substacker — seeks to tell the very best tales from nearly 100 years of World Cup football. The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup is a delightful read, full of sharp insight and laugh-out-loud moments. From Benito Mussolini’s bonus trophy for the 1934 winners — the Coppa del Duce — to Diego Maradona’s supernova in 1986 to the insidious inner workings of FIFA in the modern era, it’s all there.
Wilson joins the show this week to talk a little Premier League title race before we get into his book, why Gianni Infantino’s reign as FIFA chief makes us pine for the days of Sepp Blatter, and a whole lot more.
Go get your copy of The Power and the Glory once you’ve had a listen here!
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Or check it out on Apple Podcasts ↗️
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A few matches worth your time this weekend…
ITALY vs NORWAY
Sun @ 2:45pm ET, 7:45pm UK
The Italians simply hate qualifying for World Cups — they’ve missed the last two, a disaster for the four-time champions — and now they’re second in Group I heading into the final matchday of this first qualifying phase.
They’re behind Norway, who’ve scored an astonishing 33 goals in seven games. It helps to have Erling Haaland, who scored twice in their victory over Estonia on Thursday, but Alexander Sørloth also grabbed a brace there to advertise the Norwegians’ multi-pronged attacking might.
Technically, Italy could still secure automatic qualification here. They just need to win 9-0, because Norway have only conceded four goals total so far — a +29 goal difference. Regardless, it should be a quality match.
African playoff final: NIGERIA vs DR CONGO
Sun @ 2:45pm ET, 7:45pm UK
The winner here will represent CAF in the intercontinental playoffs, and success there will mean a ticket to the World Cup. Nigeria saw off a Gabon side led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga in the first semifinal on Thursday, while DR Congo pulled off a slight upset a few hours later to send Cameroon packing.
That’s not to say the Democratic Republic lacks quality players, but this may be an uphill climb against Nigeria’s powerful squad. Victor Osimhen scored twice in extra time against Gabon and leads a potent front line featuring Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman. They’re backed by Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Calvin Bassey and more.
We got the full rundown on African qualifying during the last international break courtesy of Maher Mezahi:
GERMANY vs SLOVAKIA
Mon @ 2:45pm ET, 7:45pm UK
Depending on how their games go later today against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland respectively, these two could be joint-top of Group A coming into this one. That would make this a straight playoff for automatic World Cup qualification, while whoever finishes second will have to go into the second round of qualifying. More playoffs!
SCOTLAND vs DENMARK
Tue @ 2:45pm ET, 7:45pm UK
These two are also tied at the top of their pile at present, each of them on 10 points at the summit of Group C. They play Greece and Belarus respectively on Saturday, but all going as expected, this will also be a straight playoff for qualification.
These are two fun squads, too. Don’t let Scott McTominay loose in Glasgow!
JAMAICA vs CURAÇAO
Tue @ 8pm ET
The hosts were top of CONCACAF Group B heading into Thursday night, but they dropped two points away at Trinidad & Tobago. Their guests here seized that opportunity.
Little Curaçao — population 156,000 — zipped up to the top of CONCACAF Group B with a 7-0 thrashing of Bermuda the same night, and now the Blue Wave can book their ticket to a first-ever World Cup for their nation with a draw at Independence Park, known as “The Office” when the Jamaican national football team is in residence.