FIFA's Pay-to-Play: Inside the Corruption of the World Cup with Ken Bensinger

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk to NYT reporter and author Ken Bensinger about  FIFA and the corruption surrounding the World Cup. Ken's 2018 book, Red Card,  explores the U.S.-led corruption case into FIFA that upended the world of international football. The conversation begins with Ken explaining the significance of football and the power of FIFA. We then dig into the rise of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and how commercial success led to the growth of corruption. The episode concludes with Ken's perspective on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and why FIFA's efforts to increase transparency and accountability are just window dressing.   

To learn more, check out Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World's Biggest Sports Scandal and the Netflix docuseries FIFA Uncovered.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the hosts. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any host’s employer.