America's Cup

Talib Visram
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Sports

How the world's favorite sporting event will meet America's own vision for it. Original reporting and analysis on the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in this political, social, and cultural moment. talibvisram.substack.com

  1. May 28

    Scoring when it's scorching

    The American College of Sports Medicine recommends athletic activity should cease at 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius). But this weekend, temperatures will surge past 90°F (32°C) in Dallas and Houston. And we’re only in May. It’s fair to say many—if not most—matches this summer will be played in extreme heat. It’s just one of the climate concerns at this year’s World Cup. Some teams got relatively lucky and will play in air-conditioned stadiums; others will face sweltering urban heat, tropical humidity, and heat-exposed stadiums built with no concerns for shade. It’s no longer a question of whether players will play in blistering heat—but how. They will have to adapt to stay resilient and perform to the highest level in furnace-like conditions. Talib speaks to Douglas Casa, CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, who has consulted with teams on precisely how to do that. Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    37 min

  2. May 20

    How AI plays into World Cup security

    Even at the best of times, highly populated mega-events are a public safety concern. Much more so at a paranoid moment when the host nation is at war, has a fair share of geopolitical enemies and a history of gun violence, plus an abundance of natural disaster hotspots. Way back in episode 1 of this podcast series—way back in September!—Talib welcomed former DHS staffer Juliette Kayyem to talk about the broad security challenges at the World Cup. In this episode, he delves deeper into some security logistics by speaking to Michael Martin, founder and CEO of RapidSOS, a company that works to enhance emergency dispatch efforts by connecting users’ smartphone data to these public and private security services—with the help of AI. They get into how that all works, especially on the large scale of the World Cup, how host city infrastructures play into the system, and what data privacy concerns we should have. 00:00 Intro 03:36 RapidSOS Explained 04:41 Real Time Response Example 06:26 Fixing Legacy 911 Data 08:35 Where Data Comes From 12:12 World Cup Host City Support 12:48 Threats At Mega Events 15:05 Medical Emergency Walkthrough 17:44 Active Shooters 19:30 Geopolitical Risk 21:30 City Infrastructure And Crowd Modeling 22:34 Evacuation Decision Flow 26:21 Security Ecosystem Roles 28:08 Drones for Rapid Response 30:05 Privacy and Civil Liberties 33:30 Natural Disaster Readiness 36:28 Protests and Public Safety 38:13 Visitor Safety Checklist Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    42 min

  3. May 14

    Sweden, meet Texas: How teams choose their base camps

    Last week, when the tiny island nation of Cape Verde chose Tampa, Florida as their team base camp, 48 of 48 of those camps were finalized. These FIFA-approved camps—training facilities and accommodations—are now set all over the country, from Boston (France), to Nashville (Japan), to Mesa, Arizona (Turkey), to San Diego (Switzerland and New Zealand). Securing camps was a months-long process, with both teams and facilities setting preferences, and factoring in aspects like travel and heat. Sweden got paired up with Frisco, Texas, a city north of Dallas that is one of the fastest-growing hubs in America. Talib speaks to Gloria Salinas and Josh Dill, economic development and tourism representatives, to discuss the city’s growth, its positioning as “Sports City USA,” how the unlikely Sweden-Frisco alliance came together—and what travelers from abroad might expect if they, like Sweden, choose Frisco. 00:00 Intro 01:36 Where Teams Set Up Shop 02:20 Surprising Camp Locations 04:26 Meet Frisco Leaders 05:39 Frisco Growth and Industry 09:14 Sports City USA Explained 11:36 Cowboys Club 14:46 Sports Tourism Strategy 16:03 How Base Camp Bidding Works 18:13 Travel Logistics and Budgets 19:31 FIFA Rules and Community Events 20:50 Heat Culture and Hotels 24:32 Residents and Local Business Plans 29:00 Hotel Demand and Visitor Mix 33:31 Getting Around DFW 34:21 Long Term Economic Legacy 36:58 Where to Eat in Frisco Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    41 min

  4. May 7

    Underdog Story, Part 2: Haiti's defiant return

    There may be no nation facing the brute force of a combination of America’s harshest policies in 2026, from visa bans to ICE raids, quite as much as Haiti. Pair that with being the recipient of Donald Trump’s most unfounded rhetoric, including that Haitians in Ohio were eating cats and dogs. Yet, Haiti has qualified for the second World Cup ever, and the first in 52 years. Lots of Haitian supporters won’t be able to come to support due to travel bans. And the coach, Sébastien Migné, reportedly has never step foot in Haiti due to safety issues. Haiti is the true definition of an underdog, both politically and athletically: The Athletic recently ranked the nation 48 of the 48 countries at the World Cup. Talib speaks to Sam Pierre, the executive director of the Haitian-American Caucus, to set the record straight. In a mire of mistruths, they discuss the realities in Haiti, the Haitian-American diaspora, what the World Cup means to the community, and working with the White House—and some of his answers may surprise you. 00:00 Haiti Underdog Spirit 00:35 Intro 04:02 Meet Sam Pierre 05:21 Haitian Diaspora 06:49 Work And Success 08:20 Haiti Reality Check 12:45 History And Inequality 16:39 World Cup Pride 20:46 Travel Ban Fallout 24:13 Who Can Attend Games 25:10 TPS Explained Simply 28:24 Trump Rhetoric 33:06 Working With Government 37:31 ICE Risks At World Cup 41:49 World Cup Pride Moment 44:57 Underdog Predictions 46:44 Join Haitian Caucus Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min

  5. Apr 29

    Underdog Story, Part 1: Is it hard to root for the USA in 2026?

    Almost exactly a year ago, journalist Beau Duré wrote an article for The Guardian titled “The US men’s national team aren’t just underachievers; they’re unlikeable.” A year on, he hasn’t budged from that stance. It’s something Talib has been thinking about as the U.S. has increasingly antagonized the rest of the world in the past year. But it’s a strange contrast to be the bully off the soccer field, and the underdog on the field. The USMNT has always been a plucky outsider to root for in the World Cup, a scrappy dark horse against the football powerhouses and sometimes winning against all odds. So in 2026, it begs some philosophical questions. Is it hard to root for Team USA in 2026? Are they still underdogs? Are they likable enough, and does that even matter? Is it unfair to put this on players who have nothing to do with policies—or do they have a responsibility to speak up? Talib speaks to Duré to unpack these questions—and also about his 2019 book, Why the U.S. Mean Will Never Win the World Cup. 00:00 Intro 04:44 Meet Bo Duré 05:57 Why USMNT Feels Unlikable 07:21 Scrappy Era Memories 10:33 American Cultural Backlash 13:53 Media Personalities Debate 18:05 Anthems and Fighter Jets 21:20 Should Players Speak Out? 23:01 Athletes And Education 23:50 Immigration 25:33 Team Form And Mentality 28:51 World Cup Expectations 32:15 Youth Soccer Structure 33:29 Travel And Tournament Chaos 34:39 Pay Disputes And Backlash 36:21 Hope For Future Fans Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    37 min

  6. Apr 16

    Prediction markets and World Cup wagers

    The World Cup hasn’t traditionally been a favorite event for U.S. sports bettors. But as North America prepares to host, the gambling landscape is a lot different. Since 2018, sports betting has been legal, and 10% of Americans partake. Punters may wage $1.5 billion on the tournament this summer. Then there’s been the inescapable emergence of prediction markets: on the face of it, simply another form of gambling, but treated by the federal government as futures trading with little regulation. It’s a ripe moment for both controversial industries to try and drive more soccer fans to their phones. Of course, FIFA has gotten in on the act, with its own very strange and politically entangled prediction market model, reported here by Front Office Sports. Talib speaks with Dustin Gouker, betting consultant and author of the Substack newsletters Event Horizon and The Closing Line, to unpack the laissez-faire state of gambling in 2026, and how it might meet the beautiful game. 00:00 Intro 00:40 US Gambling Explosion Since 2018 04:20 How Sports Betting Got Legal 07:54 The Rise of Prediction Markets 10:04 How Big Are They Now 12:21 Risks Addiction And Manipulation 15:01 Betting On War And Death 16:20 Political Ties 17:29 Why World Cup Betting Could Surge 20:21 FIFA Prediction Platform Mystery 24:51 Legal Fights and Political Winds 29:19 Prediction Markets vs Polls Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    32 min

  7. Apr 7

    Your home could be a gold mine during the World Cup

    Nothing quite beats a good hotel, but I’m also a huge fan of short-term rentals—basically, Airbnbs. They can be quirky, unique, and off the beaten path, often with kind and hospitable hosts. It’s a way to truly immerse in a locality. It seems like many World Cup travelers are thinking about Airbnb-ing it. While some hotels are panicking around lower-than-expected occupancy, Airbnb is optimistic about its short-term rentals this summer. It’s even offering new hosts $750 rewards to help deal with the surge in demand. So not only is it an option for fans in search of accommodation, but it could also earn locals a decent buck if they want to get out of town during the World Cup. They could fund their own vacation with someone else’s. AirDNA is a platform offering all sorts of data analytics around short-term rentals—and has a new World Cup dashboard where people can view demand around every single match, and calculate how much they might earn if they escaped for the summer. Talib speaks to Bram Gallagher, an economist at AirDNA, about some of the company’s findings. And how hosting could change travelers’ perceptions about Americans during a time when the country feels particularly unwelcoming. 00:00 Intro 00:38 Hotels Not Seeing Windfall 01:33 Why Travelers Choose Rentals 02:27 AirDNA Data And Dashboard 05:49 Meet Economist Bram Gallagher 06:49 How AirDNA Collects Listings 08:40 Biggest Rental Event Forecast 10:33 Demand Spikes By City And Match 12:21 Regulations Shape Market Winners 15:23 Suburbs And Longer Stays Trend 17:42 Brooklyn Earnings Example 19:30 Hosts Cash In And Try Renting 20:09 Host Premiums Surge 20:54 Fans vs Hotels Value 22:15 Where Travelers Come From 23:11 International Trends by Market 26:14 Geopolitics and Demand Risks 28:20 Booking Timing Patterns 29:50 Travel Tips and Getting Around 31:07 Hospitality as a Bridge Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    33 min

  8. Mar 24

    How America's smallest state aims to punch above its weight

    After a drawn-out debacle caused by funding disagreements, Boston—or more accurately, Foxborough, Massachusetts—finally agreed to authorize a license to host seven matches. And they are some big ones: England v. Ghana and Norway v. France, to name a couple. That’s good news for neighboring Rhode Island. America’s smallest state contains multitudes in its 1,033 square miles, not to mention its proximity to Boston. When the Patriots play, it accommodates 40% of traveling fans. For this World Cup, Providence is a pretty convenient stop along the Amtrak corridor. So Ocean State 2026 was formed to host “39 days of soccer summer” comprising regional fan zones, cultural events, and business sponsorships. They’ve already pulled through with an Airbnb partnership with a $250,000 investment. And Providence will host Ghana at its training facilities at Bryant University, the only FIFA-approved base camp in all of New England. Talib spoke with Liz Tanner, Rhode Island’s former  Secretary of Commerce, who is heading up the initiative. 00:00 Intro 04:17 Meet Liz Tanner 05:13 What Is Ocean State 2026 07:33 Beaches, Food, And Culture 09:06 Sponsorship Model Explained 11:06 Diasporas And Soccer Roots 12:05 Airbnb Partnership 13:23 Using Rhode Island As Base 15:16 Culture Tours And Festivals 16:27 Ghana Base Camp Spotlight 18:54 Ghana Trip And Team Logistics 20:00 Welcoming The World Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

How the world's favorite sporting event will meet America's own vision for it. Original reporting and analysis on the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in this political, social, and cultural moment. talibvisram.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Talib Visram
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Talib Visram
  • Show Website
    America's Cup

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