Get The App

Download the Josplay app for the best experience.

Download Now

Charts

Discover the latest hits and trending music.

Explore Charts

Podcasts

Stories, music and conversation from Africa and its diaspora.

Browse Podcasts

New Releases

Stay updated with the latest music releases.

See New Releases
← They Lied About Africa
How FIFA Tried to Keep Africa Out of the World Cup artwork

How FIFA Tried to Keep Africa Out of the World Cup

They Lied About Africa
19:45
Play episode

Show notes

What if I told you that African countries once boycotted the FIFA World Cup—and that this protest is part of the reason African teams are able to qualify for and compete in the tournament today? Most people know who won the 1966 World Cup. Far fewer know that almost an entire continent refused to participate. In this episode, we explore one of the most important yet overlooked moments in African sporting history: why African countries boycotted the 1966 FIFA World Cup, how FIFA's qualification system treated Africa differently from Europe and South America, and how a united protest changed the future of African football. This wasn't just a story about football. It was a story about representation, collective action, and a generation of newly independent African nations refusing to accept unequal treatment on the world stage. If you're watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this is one piece of history you shouldn't miss.

More from this show

More
  1. Africa Is Changing. But What Happens to the People Growing Old in It?

    Africa is changing fast, and as more people move for work, education, and opportunity, families are becoming increasingly spread out. But what does that mean for the people growing…

    01:07:46
  2. Is It Actually Easier to Build a Business in Africa? | Kanessa Muluneh

    What if building a business in Africa isn’t harder than building in the West, but in some cases, actually easier? In this episode of They Lied About Africa, I sit down with Ethiopi…

    01:00:39
  3. The Reality of Moving From America to Senegal | Aalia Reeves (Content Creator)

    Aalia Reeves moved from Texas to Senegal knowing almost nothing about the country and with no family roots or established connections of her own there beyond her husband and his fa…

    01:44:25
  4. She Left the American Dream to Build a Business in Senegal | Aminata Mbaye, Founder & CEO of PYNK

    Aminata “Ami” Mbaye had a path that looked familiar to many young people in the diaspora: build a life in the United States, find a stable career, and keep moving forward. But afte…

    01:19:43
  5. He Turned the African Diaspora's Biggest Fear Into a Business - Imran Bakaluba (Homelink Uganda)

    At just 20 years old, Imran Bakaluba is building the kind of company many Africans in the diaspora have been waiting for. Growing up in the UK before moving to Uganda, Imran found…

    48:25
  6. How Europe Built a Football Empire Using African Talent

    European football is filled with some of the best players in the world—but have you ever stopped to ask why so many of them have African roots, or why Europe's biggest clubs invest…

    21:35
Now Playing

No Track Playing

How FIFA Tried to Keep Africa Out of the World Cup — They Lied About Africa | Podcast | Josplay Music