Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images
How sport connects US to the world
Countdown to World Cup 2026
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As the United States prepares to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, the Great Game Lab explores the convergence of global sport, media, and geopolitics. We do so through storytelling, research, teaching, and informed conversations.
Set pieces
How sports connect us… what’s your take? Twenty-ish-minute chats with some of the more compelling protagonists in the great game.
Featured
How Did Philadelphia Become a World Cup City?
Philadelphia is set to host the world during the U.S. semiquincentennial (250th birthday), leaning on its reputation as a premier sports city. ASU documentarian Yana Pashaeva explores the city’s deep-rooted sports lore, illustrating how Philadelphia’s passionate fandom serves as a powerful tool for social cohesion, uniting a diverse population through a shared civic identity.
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Upcoming Events
How Did Philadelphia Become a World Cup City?
The Great Game Lab and Philadelphia’s Free Library team up for a screening of our Great Game Cities documentary, Gritty but Global: Philly’s World Cup Adventure and a discussion about Philly’s global sporting ties with Yana Pashaeva, who created the film; Andrés Martinez, author of The Great Game: A Tale of Two Footballs and America’s Quest to Conquer Global Sport and local soccer personalities.
The Playing Field: When Sports Go Global
As American sports expand through foreign investment and international play, how is globalization changing the game? Join Kay Bradley and Andrés Martinez, moderated by Paul Poast, for a discussion on American influence, the upcoming World Cup, and the future of global sports.
Great Game Lab
Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images