Jules Boykoff
@julesboykoff.bsky.social
Political scientist. Poetry enthusiast. Author of Kicking (Duke UP, 2026); What Are the Olympics For? (Bristol UP 2024); NOlympians (Fernwood 2020); Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics (Verso 2016). www.julesboykoff.org
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Zohran Mamdani has upended US politics. Now he should take on Fifa | Jules Boykoff
New York’s mayor-elect has taken on powerful institutions. With the World Cup taking place in his city, he should challenge Fifa next
www.theguardian.com
My latest @theguardian.com: As a genuine soccer fan & generational political talent, freshly elected NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani might be able to achieve the unthinkable: force the FIFA behemoth to share its lucre by targeting its tax exemptions & extreme privilege www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
FIFA is to Saudi what CAF is to China: the middleman that turns infrastructure into geopolitical leverage.
inside.fifa.com/organisation...
inside.fifa.com/organisation...
Saudi Fund for Development and FIFA join forces to provide financial support for sports infrastructure in developing nations
Unlocking the potential of sports to drive economic and social development, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and FIFA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to allocate up to USD 1 billio...
inside.fifa.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
FIFA is to Saudi what CAF is to China: the middleman that turns infrastructure into geopolitical leverage.
inside.fifa.com/organisation...
inside.fifa.com/organisation...
Step 1: Charm Trump
Step 2: Smash FIFA
Step 2: Smash FIFA
November 21, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Step 1: Charm Trump
Step 2: Smash FIFA
Step 2: Smash FIFA
Refuse to forget that LA28 Olympics Chair Casey Wasserman was among the very first to clap when Trump went on an asinine anti-trans rant. There's a pattern of craven sycophancy here.
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Refuse to forget that LA28 Olympics Chair Casey Wasserman was among the very first to clap when Trump went on an asinine anti-trans rant. There's a pattern of craven sycophancy here.
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Proud to feature @shireenahmed.bsky.social's latest on how World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest against Israel’s participation, whose team boasts active IDF soldiers.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
Ultimate Resistance
World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest, warning that Israel’s participation—bolstered by IDF soldiers on the roster—could fracture the sport’s global community.
www.sportspolitika.news
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Proud to feature @shireenahmed.bsky.social's latest on how World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest against Israel’s participation, whose team boasts active IDF soldiers.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Classic sportswashing. I love the Olympics and I hate the IOC. If you're not following @nolympicsla.bsky.social or @julesboykoff.bsky.social, time to correct that!
EXCLUSIVE: The organizing committee for the upcoming LA Olympics is hiring a bench of Trump allies to serve on its board..
The 2028 Olympics goes MAGA
It’s not the only sports body that has bent toward Trump as it prepares to put on a major event during Trump’s second term.
www.politico.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Classic sportswashing. I love the Olympics and I hate the IOC. If you're not following @nolympicsla.bsky.social or @julesboykoff.bsky.social, time to correct that!
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Check out one of our most-read articles from this year by @julesboykoff.bsky.social - it's also *free access*!
"Greenwash Gold?: The Paris 2024 Olympics," an academic article I wrote for the journal "Capitalism Nature Socialism," is now available for free ⬇️ www.tandfonline.com/eprint/REU49...
Greenwash Gold?: The Paris 2024 Olympics
In the 1990s, the Olympic Movement started showing interest in environmental development and conservation. The International Olympic Committee, the Switzerland-based group that oversees the Olympic...
www.tandfonline.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Check out one of our most-read articles from this year by @julesboykoff.bsky.social - it's also *free access*!
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
I kinda like reading this in Harvard’s student paper considering that the last public pronouncement Summers made before his shit hit the fan was a bullying threat to round up alumni to “investigate” The Crimson for its “moral bankruptcy” on supporting Palestine. Who’s being investigated now, Larry?!
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I kinda like reading this in Harvard’s student paper considering that the last public pronouncement Summers made before his shit hit the fan was a bullying threat to round up alumni to “investigate” The Crimson for its “moral bankruptcy” on supporting Palestine. Who’s being investigated now, Larry?!
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
What amazing timing for this news story, leading into tonight's vote on banning algorithmic price fixing tools for Portland rentals.
BREAKING NEWS: We’ve secured a $7 million settlement holding the largest U.S. landlord accountable for a price fixing scheme – and putting a check on the rising cost of rentals.
#consumerprotection #orpol
#consumerprotection #orpol
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
What amazing timing for this news story, leading into tonight's vote on banning algorithmic price fixing tools for Portland rentals.
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
The only threat to "fans coming from abroad" is the Trump administration and its masked ICE goons. When are national football associations going to stand up to Infantino's pro-Trump propaganda?
(Can't tag anyone here as all associations are still happily over on X, which tells you everything).
(Can't tag anyone here as all associations are still happily over on X, which tells you everything).
When a low-energy, slurring President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle because of its "liberal-slash-communist mayor," FIFA President Gianni Infantino hems & haws, refusing call out his ridiculousness. Infantino has become Trump's sportswashing accomplice #1.
November 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The only threat to "fans coming from abroad" is the Trump administration and its masked ICE goons. When are national football associations going to stand up to Infantino's pro-Trump propaganda?
(Can't tag anyone here as all associations are still happily over on X, which tells you everything).
(Can't tag anyone here as all associations are still happily over on X, which tells you everything).
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Haiti's qualification for the 2026 World Cup means there are now two nations going to the tournament whose citizens are subject to US travel bans.
November 19, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Haiti's qualification for the 2026 World Cup means there are now two nations going to the tournament whose citizens are subject to US travel bans.
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
I kinda thought that playing in Saudi would be the political low point of his career....
“Cristiano Ronaldo is...abetting Donald Trump’s efforts to sportswash, allowing the president to deflect attention from domestic chronic social problems & human-rights woes while looking important on the global stage.” www.nbcnews.com/sports/socce...
Cristiano Ronaldo attends White House dinner with Trump and Saudi crown prince
Ronaldo, 40, plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Next year’s World Cup is likely to be his last appearance at the tournament.
www.nbcnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:24 AM
I kinda thought that playing in Saudi would be the political low point of his career....
“Cristiano Ronaldo is...abetting Donald Trump’s efforts to sportswash, allowing the president to deflect attention from domestic chronic social problems & human-rights woes while looking important on the global stage.” www.nbcnews.com/sports/socce...
Cristiano Ronaldo attends White House dinner with Trump and Saudi crown prince
Ronaldo, 40, plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Next year’s World Cup is likely to be his last appearance at the tournament.
www.nbcnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 AM
“Cristiano Ronaldo is...abetting Donald Trump’s efforts to sportswash, allowing the president to deflect attention from domestic chronic social problems & human-rights woes while looking important on the global stage.” www.nbcnews.com/sports/socce...
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Infantino is the integral accident of Blatterism: not the clean-up job, but the logical end-point that makes the whole claustropolitan edifice visible. The system didn’t break — it fulfilled itself.
When a low-energy, slurring President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle because of its "liberal-slash-communist mayor," FIFA President Gianni Infantino hems & haws, refusing call out his ridiculousness. Infantino has become Trump's sportswashing accomplice #1.
November 18, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Infantino is the integral accident of Blatterism: not the clean-up job, but the logical end-point that makes the whole claustropolitan edifice visible. The system didn’t break — it fulfilled itself.
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
between dynamic pricing causing tix to be scooped up by resellers, the inflated & partially meaningless field, visa issues, plus just general Trumpiness, this World Cup is gonna be a train wreck
When a low-energy, slurring President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle because of its "liberal-slash-communist mayor," FIFA President Gianni Infantino hems & haws, refusing call out his ridiculousness. Infantino has become Trump's sportswashing accomplice #1.
November 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
between dynamic pricing causing tix to be scooped up by resellers, the inflated & partially meaningless field, visa issues, plus just general Trumpiness, this World Cup is gonna be a train wreck
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Infantino is in the Oval Office more often than JD Vance
When a low-energy, slurring President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle because of its "liberal-slash-communist mayor," FIFA President Gianni Infantino hems & haws, refusing call out his ridiculousness. Infantino has become Trump's sportswashing accomplice #1.
November 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Infantino is in the Oval Office more often than JD Vance
When a low-energy, slurring President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle because of its "liberal-slash-communist mayor," FIFA President Gianni Infantino hems & haws, refusing call out his ridiculousness. Infantino has become Trump's sportswashing accomplice #1.
November 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
When a low-energy, slurring President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches out of Seattle because of its "liberal-slash-communist mayor," FIFA President Gianni Infantino hems & haws, refusing call out his ridiculousness. Infantino has become Trump's sportswashing accomplice #1.
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
I wrote about a potential IOC ban over transgender, intersex and DSD athletes and how that ties in with the tragic death of Lia Smith here in the U.S.
Mostly, I ask is anyone going to care about those who have been hurt the entire time by this movement?
Mostly, I ask is anyone going to care about those who have been hurt the entire time by this movement?
What happens when the dog catches the car does it just stop and wag its tail and everyone pats it on the head saying good job?
Ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea the IOC held a series of roundtables with journalists on a number of topics. This was a standard thing that their media relations team wou...
www.sydney-bauer.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I wrote about a potential IOC ban over transgender, intersex and DSD athletes and how that ties in with the tragic death of Lia Smith here in the U.S.
Mostly, I ask is anyone going to care about those who have been hurt the entire time by this movement?
Mostly, I ask is anyone going to care about those who have been hurt the entire time by this movement?
The FIFA-Trump grift continues: FIFA will use Kennedy Center free of charge for the World Cup draw on 5 December. The event will occupy much of the campus & displace planned performances www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
November 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The FIFA-Trump grift continues: FIFA will use Kennedy Center free of charge for the World Cup draw on 5 December. The event will occupy much of the campus & displace planned performances www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Olympic reform efforts are setting us up for a double disaster.
The writing is on the wall: people don’t want the Olympics in their city. But for the people of Los Angeles, LA28 brings the possibility of something even more alarming. What if the Olympics never left?
The writing is on the wall: people don’t want the Olympics in their city. But for the people of Los Angeles, LA28 brings the possibility of something even more alarming. What if the Olympics never left?
November 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Olympic reform efforts are setting us up for a double disaster.
The writing is on the wall: people don’t want the Olympics in their city. But for the people of Los Angeles, LA28 brings the possibility of something even more alarming. What if the Olympics never left?
The writing is on the wall: people don’t want the Olympics in their city. But for the people of Los Angeles, LA28 brings the possibility of something even more alarming. What if the Olympics never left?
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
FIFA has raised ticket prices for dozens of 2026 World Cup games, in some cases by more than 20%.
Most upper-deck tickets to the World Cup final are now $5,055 or $3,450.
Increases for two of three USMNT games.
Details @theathletic.com:
Most upper-deck tickets to the World Cup final are now $5,055 or $3,450.
Increases for two of three USMNT games.
Details @theathletic.com:
2026 World Cup ticket prices jump; FIFA targets knockout rounds, USMNT games, cohosts
Another purchasing window has opened for 2026 World Cup tickets, and dynamic pricing is in full effect
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
FIFA has raised ticket prices for dozens of 2026 World Cup games, in some cases by more than 20%.
Most upper-deck tickets to the World Cup final are now $5,055 or $3,450.
Increases for two of three USMNT games.
Details @theathletic.com:
Most upper-deck tickets to the World Cup final are now $5,055 or $3,450.
Increases for two of three USMNT games.
Details @theathletic.com:
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
The IOC is moving toward a blanket ban on trans women in women’s sport, under the “working group on the protection of women’s sport.” But a real consultation would never lead to this.
🔗Learn why this process has been flawed from the start: sportandrightsalliance.org/olympics-sec...
🔗Learn why this process has been flawed from the start: sportandrightsalliance.org/olympics-sec...
November 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The IOC is moving toward a blanket ban on trans women in women’s sport, under the “working group on the protection of women’s sport.” But a real consultation would never lead to this.
🔗Learn why this process has been flawed from the start: sportandrightsalliance.org/olympics-sec...
🔗Learn why this process has been flawed from the start: sportandrightsalliance.org/olympics-sec...
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
the police union is going to try to raid the Portland Clean Energy Fund via ballot initiative
Ballot Initiative Will Seek to Reroute 25% of Climate Tax Revenues to Hiring Police
A citizen ballot initiative backed by the Portland Police Association will seek to reroute 25% of revenues from the Portland Clean Energy Fund tax to fund the hiring of 400 additional police officers.
www.wweek.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:27 AM
the police union is going to try to raid the Portland Clean Energy Fund via ballot initiative
Reposted by Jules Boykoff
Oh good lord can you imagine if he could knock Gianni down a peg or two 🙏🏼
My latest @theguardian.com: As a genuine soccer fan & generational political talent, freshly elected NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani might be able to achieve the unthinkable: force the FIFA behemoth to share its lucre by targeting its tax exemptions & extreme privilege www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Zohran Mamdani has upended US politics. Now he should take on Fifa | Jules Boykoff
New York’s mayor-elect has taken on powerful institutions. With the World Cup taking place in his city, he should challenge Fifa next
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Oh good lord can you imagine if he could knock Gianni down a peg or two 🙏🏼