What can football teach us about connection, community and diplomacy in an interconnected world?
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Dr. Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff about football’s role as a tool for soft power, exploring how major tournaments such as the FIFA Men’s World Cup shape international relationships and global perceptions.
We also hear from Nomonde Mashabane, a coach and educator from the Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa. Her experiences with the British Council and Premier League’s Premier Skills programme demonstrate how football can build confidence, develop personal and social skills, and strengthen communities.
Together, their stories reveal the links between grassroots football and the global spectacle of the World Cup, showing how the game can bring people together across cultures, communities and borders.
Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.
Further resources:
Premier Skills Programme
https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/schools/premier-skills
Sport, cultural relations and peacebuilding
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/cultural-relations-sport-peacebuilding
Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff
https://www.lindsaysarahkrasnoff.com/