The World Cup is more than just soccer. How it’s a flash point for politics, the economy and ICE for host cities like LA
Imperfect Paradise
LAist Studios
4.5 • 535 Ratings
🗓️ 5 June 2026
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The stakes are high for this year’s FIFA World Cup. For the first time in the tournament's history, 48 national teams will compete across 16 cities. That includes Los Angeles. And despite the sport’s biggest names battling it out on the field, high ticket prices, ICE’s role at the games, and other issues have caused concern among fans. LAist reporter Libby Rainey joins us for an overview of the World Cup and what the historic event will mean for Angelenos and visitors.
Check out more of Libby’s reporting and LAist’s World Cup guide at LAist.com/WorldCup
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Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Support for LAIS comes from FX's The Bear, starring Jeremy Allen White, Iowa Debris, and Ebenmoss Backrack. |
| 0:07.7 | Season 4 finds the team determined to survive and take the bear to the next level. |
| 0:12.1 | Emmy eligible. The bear season 4 is now streaming on Hulu. |
| 0:16.7 | Support for LAIS comes from the American Red Cross. |
| 0:19.9 | One blood donation can help save multiple lives. You can make a difference today. Call from the American Red Cross. One blood donation can help save multiple lives. |
| 0:22.5 | You can make a difference today. |
| 0:23.9 | Call 1-800 Red Cross or visit Red Crossblood.org to schedule your appointment. |
| 0:28.5 | Help hospital patients count on you when it matters most. |
| 0:32.0 | This is in perfect paradise of your host Nereida Moreno. |
| 0:39.1 | The final countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on. |
| 0:44.4 | The biggest sporting event on the planet for the world's most popular sport. |
| 0:49.5 | Seconds left in the World Cup final. |
| 0:52.7 | Do you believe in miracles? For the first time in the World Cup final. Do you believe in miracles? |
| 0:55.7 | For the first time in the tournament's history, |
| 0:58.7 | 48 national teams will compete across 16 cities, |
| 1:02.4 | jointly hosted by three countries, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. |
| 1:08.2 | The sports biggest stars will be battling it out on the field for an unprecedented six weeks from June 11th through July 19. |
| 1:17.4 | If you have Messi as a motivating factor to be on your team, just... |
| 1:20.9 | It's hard to go past the limine your mouth. |
| 1:22.8 | And Los Angeles is a central focal point on the World Cup stage. |
| 1:32.9 | So today, we begin a three-part series on Imperfect Paradise about the World Cup that will dive into various issues. |
| 1:40.9 | Tickets are going for upwards of $11,000. |
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