The most expensive World Cup ever? (With Football Daily, part 3)

The most expensive World Cup ever? (With Football Daily, part 3)

Americast · 2026-06-05

We’ve got together with Americast/Newscast and Football Daily for three special episodes on what could be the most political World Cup ever.

How much will Donald Trump make it about him? Will the US-Iran war affect the tournament? And why are tickets so expensive?

We tell you everything you need to know about what’s going on off the pitch.

Adam Fleming joins from Newscast and 5 Live football commentary legend John Murray is on from Football Daily.

In this episode we look at what the US-Iran war means for Iran’s team and what strict Visa laws mean for players and fans.

Listen to Newscast here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl

Listen to Football Daily here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p02nrsln

HOSTS:• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent• Adam Fleming, Newscast Host• John Murray, 5 Live Commentator

GET IN TOUCH:• Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB• Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480• Email [email protected]• Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Ellie House. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producers were Chris Flynn and Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nlRadical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6rThe Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Americast

Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron. Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on the World Service. Oh, and by the way, you can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at [email protected] or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

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