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Copa Independent

Copa Independent

The Independent 168 episodes Latest May 28, 2026

Copa Independent is a weekly podcast that covers the 2026 World Cup from every angle: not just the football, but also the politics, history, debates, and nostalgia. Hosted by The Independent, it aims to provide a comprehensive look at the tournament.

Episodes

Why World Cup water break ads are a disaster Jun 12, 2026 31:48 The World Cup finally started, with a comfortable win for Mexico, a wretched display from South Africa, a flurry of red cards and even more adverts featuring Christian Pulisic, many of them during the actual game.Chief football writer Miguel Delaney and senior football correspondent Richard Jolly discuss the ever greater commercialisation of the World Cup and the commercials in the new hydration b
Gianni Infantino's World Cup opener: Today I feel... chill Jun 11, 2026 29:42 After a controversial and seemingly never-ending build-up, today is finally the day the 23rd Fifa World Cup begins. Tonight, co-hosts Mexico face South Africa at the Azteca, the most famous stadium in World Cup history. And it was also in Mexico City where Gianni Infantino held his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. Three-and-a-half years on from his infamous 'Today I feel...' monologue
The big World Cup preview Jun 3, 2026 54:01 The World Cup is nearly here and this week on Copa Independent, the team discuss the tournament favourites, the dark horses and, erm, Scotland, as well as how politics and money have created a World Cup like nothing we’ve ever seen before.Will Carlo Ancelotti deliver a record sixth World Cup for Brazil? Is Spain’s midfield the best at the tournament? How far can England go? And could a side like E
The 10 greatest World Cup players of all time May 28, 2026 46:35 The World Cup is nearly here, and we’re counting down the best of all time. This week a panel of Independent journalists have voted on their greatest stars.From Pele and Messi to Maradona and Beckenbauer, with a sprinkling of Zidane, Mbappe and Ronaldo in the mix, these are the players who have lit up the “greatest show on earth” over the past 96 years.Independent sports writers Lawrence Ostlere,
Why Tuchel axed England's big names before World Cup May 22, 2026 21:06 Miguel Delaney and Lawrence Ostlere were at Wembley to see Thomas Tuchel explain his England squad for the 2026 World Cup.They chew over the big-name omissions and why Tuchel didn’t pick Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold – and how Ivan Toney mysteriously returned to the conversation this week. Miguel also discusses his intimate briefing with the England manager. And, under severe
How to win the World Cup May 14, 2026 55:22 As more big players struggle with injury, and there is now an expectation that set-pieces at the World Cup will be refereed in a completely different way to the Premier League, a few international managers are already adapting plans. Which begs a bigger question: what is the best way to win a World Cup?Are there set approaches? Can you "playbook" it, as Gareth Southgate tried? Do you need an ideol
Weight of the waistcoat: Is England manager really ‘the impossible job’? May 8, 2026 55:19 Fourteen men have managed the England men’s team since Sir Alf Ramsey won the World Cup in 1966, and none have come close to repeating the feat. Under high expectation, intense scrutiny and crippling pressure, a series of England managers have been hounded, humiliated, abused and, in Sam Allardyce’s case, stung by a ruthless media. No wonder Graham Taylor called it “the impossible job”.In this wee
I saw the Spain down in Africa May 1, 2026 48:12 We all know the ingredients that make a great World Cup, from moments to atmosphere, and 2010 had them all… but was it really a great tournament? Does that depend on age? And what of its champions? Were Spain boring or was it the opposition? Was this England’s worst World Cup? And would you have done what Luis Suarez did against Ghana? Lawrence Ostlere, Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly get into a
The great World Cup rip-off Apr 24, 2026 47:47 With 2026 set to be by far the most expensive World Cup ever to attend, we investigate how it's got to this - and what it means for the future. This isn't just from being in an expensive United States right now. Fifa have been significant drivers, mostly through ticket prices but also some of the deals struck for the tournament, raising further questions about their leadership of the sport. We als
Born in the USA: 1994's great American World Cup Apr 16, 2026 45:42 As the World Cup returns to America, it would not have been possible without the spectacular success of USA 94. That was actually a huge gamble at the time, but more than paid off - in multiple ways. A colourfully open tournament was the consequence of unique factors coming together at once, but also changed the World Cup for the future. A tournament full of soul had an immense commercial legacy -
Will Donald Trump win the 2026 World Cup? Apr 10, 2026 47:42 In the last 15 months alone, the build-up to this World Cup has brought more unprecedented developments than any previous tournament in history, above all a host nation bombing a participant through the Iran war. That raises many questions, right up to what influence Donald Trump is going to have on how this World Cup develops. But there's also another: if any other country was responsible, would
The other World Cup England should have won Apr 2, 2026 44:16 Since England won the World Cup in 1966, they have not been back to another men’s final, appearing in only two semi-finals in 1990 and 2018 in their closest attempts at repeating the feat. So, as the 2026 World Cup approaches, on the 60th anniversary of that famous Wembley win, should England have won more tournaments with the talent and resources at their disposal? And can Thomas Tuchel finally e

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