David Goldblatt and Jonathan Shainin

The football writer David Goldblatt discusses a tournament riven by geopolitical strife and controversy – and looks ahead to to the final.

Donald Trump's executive order to reverse an American player's red card was perhaps the most dramatic act of political interference in this World Cup. But it wasn't at all the only one. Goldblatt talks to Equator’s Jonathan Shainin about a tournament in which Iran's team was compelled to fly out of the US right after every match on American soil, fans and referees from several countries were denied visas, and allegations of cheating and racism were rife. He also captures moments of dazzling football and looks ahead to the final on 19 July.