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The Conversation
John A. Tures, Professor of Political Science, LaGrange College

Does the World Cup favor democratic or autocratic nations? I did some number crunching to find out

Canada takes on Qatar on June 18, 2026, in a battle between a democracy and an autocratic nation. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

It is often said – by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and many others – that soccer is the “most democratic sport.” That sentiment is based in large part on the sport’s global appeal and long history of popularity across class and racial lines.

But whether that axiom applies to the quadrennial World Cup tournament is a different question.

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