What happens when football becomes far more than a game? As the 2026 World Cup unfolds, this Long Read written by Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall revisits four matches played during the Cold War that turned the beautiful game into a battleground of ideology, identity and state power.

Today's feature originally appeared in the July 2026 issue of HistoryExtra magazine, and has been voiced in partnership with the RNIB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rss Apple Podcaster
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör History Extra. Innehållet i podden är skapat av History Extra och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.