Podcast: The most political World Cup to date?

This week the 2026 World Cup kicked off with Mexico playing South Africa in what many have called one of the most politically charged sporting tournaments in history.

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The competition - that will keep football fans glued to their screens until 19 July - is being held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

But while some people in Brussels are focused on World Cup bets, others are more focused on the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which becomes fully applicable today (12 June).

Euronews’ weekly podcast Brussels, My Love? tries to bring together these two topics by talking to Virginie Jacob, senior advisor on migration at the European Policy Centre, Petros Fassoulas, secretary general of the European Movement International and Euronews journalist Adnan Leal.

EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: Today is the day

First adopted in 2024, the EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a set of binding legislation overhauling how the bloc manages migration and establishing a common asylum system at the EU level.

While some have welcomed the pact as a much-needed reform, critics fear it could lead to a wave of ICE-style immigration policies.

According to Fassoulas, the pact symbolises the EU’s ability to tackle crises rather than prevent them. “People are fleeing from war, poverty, and environmental disaster, and here we haven’t invested in the necessary infrastructure to accommodate these people who are looking for a shelter,” he said.

A key feature of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact is the Return Regulation, which was approved on 1 June, and allows EU countries to establish return hubs outside the bloc.

“Return hubs will allow member states to send people back in a country where they have no connections and this is of course an advantage for avoiding bottlenecks about the procedures,” Jacob explained to Euronews.

Jacob believes today marks the start of a transition phase, as the pact represents a large-scale reform that cannot be ‘flipped overnight in one day’. However, if the implementation works well, Jacob is positive about the outcome: “It could help with mutual trust between member states and cooperation, she said.

The most political World Cup

As is often the case with sports, politics does not stay off the pitch.

With the ongoing war in the Middle East, this will be the first edition of a World Cup to see a host nation (the US) receive the team of a country it is at war with (Iran).

“It is a great shame that political events are risking overshadowing such a great festival of sporting competition,” Fassoulas said.

“I'm concerned that what has preceded the competition might become even worse,” he continued.

Leal also highlighted that high prices are a major issue for this World Cup.“The cheapest ticket for the final in Qatar was $1,600. The cheapest ticket for the final this year is around $6,000, and it's up to $32,000,” he said.

But as for who might win, the betting remains open. According to Leal’s observations, Spain and France are among the frontrunners.

Listen to the podcast in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.