Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Long before sportswashing had its name, there was Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s World Cup.

⚽️ In this first episode of Power Plays, Karim Zidan investigates how Mussolini used the 1934 FIFA World Cup to advance Fascist Italy’s global image — transforming the tournament into far more than an international sporting event.

If you think sports and politics don’t mix, this story might change your mind. This is where the FIFA World Cup first became a tool for global power.

🎧 Listen to Episode 1, out now wherever you get your podcasts: https://power-plays.captivate.fm/listen

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