Donald Trump and his ally, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, have plumbed new depths with their political antics before and during the World Cup. But as David Goldblatt insists, they still couldn’t destroy the moments of collective joy it gives us.

Michigan Representative Haley Stevens speaks during a rally at the US Capitol  on May 6, 2025.

As Centrist Dems Go After the Left, Beware the P-Words

Democrats are trying to defeat socialism by deploying concepts that, while sounding reasonable, ultimately play to the Right. Words like “practical” and “pragmatic” may sound objective, but they’re used to undermine a left that’s winning elections.

Kathy Hilton, Paris Hilton, Kris Jenner, and Faye Resnick attend the Klarna & Paris Hilton House of Y2K Launch Party in Los Angeles on February 23, 2023.

The Inexorable Rise of Funny Money

Last year, almost half of all Buy Now, Pay Later customers missed a payment. But a growing share of Americans are relying on such credit as a routine way to fund even basics like groceries.

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Mainstream economics cannot accept the concept of contradiction that is foundational for Karl Marx’s analysis of capitalism. David Harvey explains why we need the Marxist perspective if we want to make sense of capital’s latest mutations in the age of AI.

Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Gianni Infantino react during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the Kennedy Center on December 5, 2025, in Washington, DC.

The Americanization of the World Cup Is Here to Stay

Unwarranted ad breaks, entry bans on some foreign nationals, and political tampering with the game all made this a Trumpian World Cup. But if Donald Trump put his stamp on the world’s game, it’s also set a precedent for future FIFA-organized tournaments.

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Jacobin is a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture.

$29.95
1 Year / 4 Issues
Digital Subscription
$39.95
1 Year / 4 Issues
Print + Digital Subscription