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

According to political science professor John Tures, democracies have a structural advantage at the FIFA World Cup—despite longstanding assumptions that authoritarian hosts gain propaganda wins. After analyzing tournament data, Tures's research suggests democratic nations consistently outperform autocracies at the global competition. While dictators may hope a World Cup hosting slot burnishes their international image, the numbers tell a different story.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton