PTI - FIFA Presses Ahead with 64-Team World Cup Expansion

Episode Date: July 31, 2026

Michael Wilbon and Frank Isola tackle FIFA’s New Venture, WNBA Betting Scandal, and LeBron-to-Philadelphia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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It's the last show of the week in midsummer, so you know what that means. I'm Frank Isola. It's a Phil and Frank Friday. That's what it means. There we go. These used to be the dog days. Now you get a story here and there, right? Tony just threw his shoe at the TV when I said that.

Yeah. They made me do it. Welcome to PTI. Apparently, Tony just ran. out of gas. Couldn't finish the week. So here in relief is our great friend from the starting lineup on Sirius XM,

Mr. Frank I Solo. There we go. Let's start with the shaky state of FIFA's plan to sell a portion of the Men's World Cup, World Cup, and Women's World Cup, to private investors for $20 billion. The governing bodies of Europe, the Americas and now Asia have all blasted the plan.

And today, FIFA's chief operating officer broke with President Gianni Infantino, saying the staff had been deceived. You know the media, Frank. And the project must not go through. Frank, what was Infantino trying to do? And does he seem more destined to succeed or fail? Yeah, like the COO said, it's the project of one person. And it's obviously greed has a lot to do with it

and not really caring about the sport, the players and the fans. I think it all started with the hydration breaks at the World Cup. They made so much money. Each break was between like $7 and $9 million to broadcast. Two per game and how many games? And extra revenue.

Yeah. I think this is going to fail. Mike, if you go back five years ago, you had those big clubs in Europe tried to basically circumvent the Champions League and start their own league. That's like, you know, Byer Leutic and Chelsea, Juventus, PSG, Real Madrid.

and right away, every team in Europe, including their own fans of their own team, said, we're not doing this. Now, there is a lot of money here at stake. And Infantino is telling these countries over the next 11 years, instead of $36 million, you could be getting $86 million. So when it comes down to a vote,

it's one thing for Spain and France and say, no, we're not doing this. But what if the littles? Exactly. What if you're San Marino? What if you're Gibraltar? What if you're El Salvador? You're going to say, well, hang on a second.

That's a lot of money here. I think ultimately it will fail. It should fail. And another part of this, too, because of who's involved in the investing? Who's involved? With connections to the White House. I think a lot of these countries are going to say, this is just the Americans getting involved

and only caring about money and not the sport. And so it will fail for a while. Yeah. Greed doesn't fail. Greed ultimately comes through. Depends on what form you adjust the project. you tweak it here, you tweak it there, you re-present it. You know, you put new people in charge and you go down the road, you kick the can down the road a little bit.

And guess what? Greed wins in some form, and I hear you. I'm glad they stood up. I thought, wow, this is pretty cool. Wait a minute. What are we talking about here? And then the notion becomes, okay, in America, we're much more accepting. Maybe we're much more quickly accepting.

Yeah, yeah, I think that's true. But worldwide greed wins. It's why we are. as a world, what we are as a world. So I believe that it may be 20 years from now. It may take on all kinds of different, you know, shapes and sizes and colors. But, Frank, it just seems, look, look at what's happening with basketball internationally. Look at what's happening with college sports domestically.

I mean, all these entities are just going to turn away from money because they figure they're going to sing kumbaya and we shall overcome. Well, I'm not buying that. ultimately, even though I am applauding the stand, these countries, and these organizations have taken. Yeah, and the fans are against it as well. So you mentioned things change. Yeah. So just look at this World Cup.

We mentioned the two hydration breaks, which everyone outside of the U.S. was like, what do you're playing four quarters? It's like a basketball game. And they did expand the tournament to 48 teams. And now they're talking about... 56. Now they're talking about 56, 68. It's on the board. It's up for discussion now.

But when you get private equity involved, investors, they are going to now have a say. So are they going to want the tournament every two years? What kind of broadcasting deal is there going to be? There's one counter question, Frank, as we move on, how much do I get? 100%. How much do I get? Yeah. That's the price.

Hopefully the fans and the players are against it. By the way, if UEFA is not involved in all those European countries, you don't have a World Cup. Five of the last seven World Cup champions have come from Europe. including Italy, by the way. All right, let's move to the WNBA taking heat again, this time for posting a video of young stars, Paige Beckers, and Angel Reese betting $400 on a basketball game between their respective teams.

The league removed the post soon after its publishing, acknowledging, quote, missed the mark and said the players would be reminded that, quote, conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences. Stop. All right, so ESPN's reporting that neither player will be punished, Mike.

Does the WMBA's response to the situation suffice? Actually, yeah, it does. Really? Yeah. Let's not, again, today's show we could just start with big hypocrisy. Then we can just start with that. And yes, this suffices. There's no outrage over this.

People don't give a damn. They don't. This is not 1919 black stocks. It's not even Pete Rose walking into a clubhouse. This is no gambling. Frank, gambling's allowed. It's allowed because I know because half of our colleagues

who host shows on this network are doing ads or gambling houses. Our bosses are in partnership with gamblers. So what the players shouldn't be? The WMBA's got much bigger issues anyway. This is between the players. It doesn't matter what's in the CBA. What's in the air?

What's on the air? Gambling. Segment on the shows that we follow or proceed with gambling. I don't really hear it. I don't. Well, you know who? What about Malik Beasley? What about Chauncey Billups?

I don't. I don't want to put all the blame on them. I don't. Well, here's my thing. I think a lot of times the WNBA looks at the NBA and they say, we want to be like them. We want to travel by charter.

We want to fly. We want to stay in the nice hotels. We want to make the big money. This is the time where they're glad they're not the NBA. Because the punishment would be different. Now, if you're asking, me because that whole NBA

the WNBA All-Star weekend, it was all Twitch and live streaming. It's like they live on social media. So do I think it was a lighthearted thing? Yes. But the league has to deliver some type of punishment. Why? Even if it was one game to say it's not something

you joke around about. By the way, after the game, Angel Reese, when she was asked about it, she said, yeah, I'm waiting for my apple peg. I don't think it needs to be reduced to a joke. Frank, the reality is, we're in bed with gamblers. Until people understand and admit that.

But this is players. But this is two players, though, Mike. So what? The players are part of the show, dude. You think if two NBA players, too high-profile NBA players like this? They're not the NBA. And the WNBA has bigger fish to fry. They got issues of race and culture which are out front that need to be addressed. And there's people are afraid to address some of them, at least publicly, at least

seriously. There's all kinds of issues out there that don't get addressed. don't tell me that gambling, which is sanctioned by the league and its partners, is the devil. Both things can be true. You're saying they do have other issues. But something like this, just dismissing it while it was a joke,

okay, that's fine. And it's two high-profile players. One game suspension is say, listen, this is for everyone in the league. Don't be joking about gambling on games. Frank, I didn't say it's good. It's here. And it's here to stay.

And greed doesn't just apply to FIFA and UEFA. And it doesn't. It's everywhere. And so that includes gambling. Gambling in big, bold, World War II letters. But the league should have done something. Should have done something. They're going to do anything?

No, they're not. They should have given one game suspension. They're not. They're not going to slap on the wrist. Let's move to the latest on LeBron's move to the Sixers. Agent Rich Paul stood on his podcast today. that Jalen Brown is fully on board with LeBron joining the team. Ian O'Connor, meanwhile, makes this case in the athletic

that LeBron winning a fifth title with the fourth team would tip the scales in the goat debate toward LeBron over Michael Jordan for undecideds like himself. What do you think of what Ian O'Connor is saying, right? Ian didn't want to write about the baseball trade deadline, so he picked this one. Ian's forgetting that he was sitting courtside with you in the late 90s, watching Michael Jordan coming to Madison Square.

and then go to Utah. We'll get to that. And winning championships. I've heard this before from a lot of people. I agree with it. Can you make the case? LeBron's had the greatest career when you think of all the accomplishments that he's had. So I can't always just call a championships because the first year that the first time that he went to the finals,

he took a rag tag Cleveland Cavaliers team. I don't hold that against him. To me, that is an accomplishment. The 07. But he does have the all-time scoring record. If you compare him to Jordan from that because he played more years, 411 more wins, including postseason, 13,000 more points.

For my money, it's still Michael Jordan. What LeBron is doing now is incredible. If he could snap a 43-year championship drought for Philadelphia, that certainly elevates him. But I think a lot of us, our heels are dug in. You're either Michael or LeBron. Everybody's heels is going to change. We need to just admit that.

And I tend not to get involved in this conversation anymore. And Brian Windhorst leads the way in this, and he leads it with an attitude, and I love it, love Brian for that. It's not accounting. That's not what it is, because if it was accounting, Bill Russell has more championships than both of them.

So let's stop. And, you know, we get into the situation where you have to say something negative about one to boost your case. I don't want to do that. My case is always this. If you have to go ask Dwayne Wade to tag team with you to get your first two championship,

the other do is the goat. By the way, even if I didn't go to that negative place I just went. It's not close for me. And I don't believe Ian for one second. I believe he did this to write a column, which we used to do. I used to do that. I don't believe he believes this at all because somebody who, of his age, and by the way, a great columnist for a long, long time.

It's provocative. It's provocative to present that. It's nonsense. First of all, if you just join up with a bunch of people, you know what happens down on the mall here in Washington? If you took two former pro softball players and put him with the Washington Post team, they were called ringers. Yeah. Okay, so that's today's version of that with the Sixers.

And by the way, I don't blame LeBron for doing that good. I'm glad he's doing it. But then don't tell me that that makes him better than Jordan. That's the part where I draw the line. And also, Michael Jordan going to Washington was as much of a financial deal as it was basketball. It was entirely a financial deal. So I think if you had to do it all over again, he might be able to. say, you know what, I'm going to try to win two more.

I'm going to go to L.A. I'm going to go with Jack and Kobe. Of course. He could have. And he didn't. But again, this conversation, we're going to go to Brian Winhorse. Do you think LeBron will win a championship? I think getting to a conference finals big, a finals, but you don't

think I'll win? No, what happened when he went to Miami? Those guys played 76 games apiece, the three stars of that team. Bosch, Dway, LeBron. They couldn't win that first year, and they were together in your physical primes and played every game. It's hard people to win a championship.

You don't just amass them. I'm not going to bet you because that would be wrong. But coming up, the Rangers and Astros face off for control of the American League West, who needs the series more? And the Red Sox and Dodgers start a series tonight. Which team is playing better right now? Toss up is next. I'm not yelling at you because of gambling.

I'm just loud. I'm yelling at everybody. Everybody. It's definitely out there. wants to be accountable. Car shopping this civic holiday weekend, most car dealerships are closed and all you'll find are crickets.

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or Civic Holiday Monday 9 to 5 for the best time to shop this summer. From the producers of Super Troopers and Super Troopers 2 comes, you guessed it. Broken Lizard and their rowdy patrol squad returned to the scene of the crime. In Super Troopers 3, the mustaches are thicker, the maple syrup stickier, and the pranks crazier than ever. Buckle up for the funniest comedy of the summer. Super Troopers 3, only in theaters, August 7. Time to spank Frank and toss up what's first.

Toss up, they open a three-game series tonight. Who needs it more? The Rangers or the Astros? I mean, this is essentially a dead heat, Frank, in this division. And you go back and you look, I mean, it seems like the Astros are just much, much, much greater than Texas. But it's only, I think it's two World Series wins to one recently.

Astros have been to the World Series more often. But I'm looking at this related to something individual, Yordaun Alvarez, his pursuit. of the triple crown. 35 home runs hitting 321 with 80 runs batted in. So he leads the American League, of course, in all those categories. But he's got a shot at leading baseball in all of them. The last person to do that, baseball, all of baseball.

Mickey Mantle in 1956. It's been 70 years the Mick has been sitting on this, and that would be really cool, and it would give a certain authenticity, legitimacy to me, to Alvarez, if the Astros would overtake Texas, that sort of pull on away. Interesting seeing them both above Seattle,

which has had a subpar season. Cal Raleigh's been heard. He's been subpar. Nathan Avaldi tonight against Hunter Brown, so that that's the matchup for tonight. A couple of things to keep in mind. If the Astros win one more game of this series, they'll win the season

series, which is important. If you go back to all the way to 2001, right now the Astros, 155 wins, the Rangers, 154 wins against each other, which is pretty remarkable. The Astros are flying right now. They're 8 and 2. That's why for the Rangers, they're 5 and 5 in their last 10, but maybe help is on the way.

Corey Seeger expected to be in the lineup tonight. He's been out for over a month. He was down in Frisco rehabbing, so that could help Texas. I agree, though, about, like, there's something about the Astros. I even heard the guys stay on MLB Network talking about maybe at the deadline, because both these teams are going to do something by Monday's deadline. And there's talk about, you know, the Astros heading a bat, maybe even bringing George Springer back.

How about that? That would be pretty good, even at 37. Rejuvenated, Rejuvenated, George Springer, coming back from almost winning another world series. What's next? Toss up, they open a three-game set tonight. Who's playing better right now? The Red Sox or the Dodgers?

Well, who's played better right now is just straight math to me, Frank? Yeah. And the Red Sox, by virtue of that 15-game winning streak, you know, just not long ago, 25 and 5 in their last 30. Now, it doesn't mean they're going to sustain this for the whole run. It doesn't mean I wouldn't rather be the Dodgers right now. The Red Sox are still in a chase and don't know if they're going to make it. The Dodgers, unless something calamitous happens,

they're going to finish atop the entire National League and be able to set up with a buy and pitching and a whole deal. And, you know, they'll make whatever deal or deals they feel they need to make. So I'd rather be the Dodgers, but the answer to the question. Red Sox 25 and 5. Yeah, you're right about that. What's interesting, too, is you have the Red Sox playing in a minor league ballpark last night in Sacramento. Now, tonight they get to go to L.A.

A couple of things to keep in mind. Shohei Otani did not play last night, still bothered by that sore knee. They expect him to play tonight. And then how about the situation with Curtis Mead, who they got, the infielder that they got from Washington, fractured his wrist four weeks until he's reevaluated. It's unfortunate. So who knows if we're going to see him again? I love this stat, though, about the Red Sox. After 108 games this season, they're 57 and 51.

So special about that. That's their exact record the last four seasons. This season in the previous three, which is a little hard to believe. But here's the thing about the Dodgers. Remember this. Best batting average in the majors, second and slugging percentage, fourth in runs, and their rotation is the low, they have the lowest CRA in baseball. So right now, it's the Red Sox, if you're asking me, who do I think is going to be lifting the trophy?

I'm still taking the Dodgers against the field. Working for who we work for, given that number. in that trend. Can we get, can we get odds on that happening again? Well, give me the odds on the Dodgers versus the field. I don't know odds. If Shohey's held. That's it. Let's take one last break still to come. Michigan's new

coach says it doesn't need to be hatred toward Ohio State. And could Flo Balogne be on the move to a top tier team as they say in France? Auvoir. Flo Balagant. Even though he might be going on a French team now. Beef French team?

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Time to get happy people. 31st birthday, Chris Stap's Porzingis. The Warriors Center celebrates his birthday actually Sunday. Because he joined the team in midseason, he's not often mentioned alongside Steph, Draymond, and Jimmy Buckens, but Porzingas produced decent numbers when healthy during his limited time with the dubs. Average 16 points, five boards, two assists, and one block only played 15 games with them. That earned him a two-year $40 million extension last month, which is pretty lucrative for a player who has missed 90 games, the past two seasons.

I covered him when he broke into the league as a rookie with the next fourth overall pick. Terrific guy. But that third season made the All-Star team before he ever got to playing in the game blew out his knee. And Mike, he's been injured ever since. Couldn't LeBron win with them? I thought LeBron could have won with the Warriors. Don't come close.

Happy anniversary Dick Allen is as posthumous. But on this day, 54 years ago, the then White Sox star hit not one but two. Inside the Park home runs against Bert Blyleven of the twin. Allen would go on to win AL MVP that year, eight seasons after winning NL rookie of the year with the Phillies. He was finally inducted until the Hall of Fame last summer long overdue. We count 12 inside the park home runs across baseball this season, including two leading off games for the Rockies by outfielded Jake McCarthy. The first time that's happened since 1929, Frank. One of the most exciting plays in baseball.

Dick Allen's one of those guys that in New York at that time. We only got to see him a couple of times a year when the Yankees played. I remember I'm always wearing the helmet, and then you read why I wore the helmet. One of the most talented players ever that I could ever remember seeing. Happy Trails to last night's seemingly sure win for the Royals. Kansas City's up three nothing on the Twins with two out and O2 count on Cody Clemens in the bottom of the ninth. When everything changes, Royals reliever Matt Strom chose not to waste a pitch. Clemens then sent what looked like a strong.

out to right field for a walk off grand slam. This was such a bad loss for the Royals who had no hit the Twinkies for the first six inning, said Minnesota manager Derek Shelton, quote, I went from being extremely pissed, just very candidly, to pure elation. They call it the ultimate grand slam. That's not something on Denny's menu for breakfast, even though Cody Clemens did say earlier in the day for breakfast, he did have chocolate chip pancakes. But that's a walk-off grand slam when your team is down by three runs.

The claim is it's happened 34 times in Major League history. Yesterday was 34. Not that special. The numbers just reduced his feet. It was great. It's more uncommon than a no-hitter. PSG is reportedly as we go to the big finish. Talking with AS Monaco about bringing in Flo Balligan.

Frank, what do you think of this idea? Well, PSG is the two-time defending Champions League title holders. He was Bob Allen goes there. That is some move for him. That'd be great. Dak Prescott is calling the Cowboys offense Gotti. That's got nothing to do with Italians living in New York. It means greatest offense there is.

Is that okay by you? Sure. Is he calling their defense garbage? You doing that? Michigan coach, Kyle Winningham, said the rivalry with the Ohio State can be intense and emotional without hatred. You buying that? Yeah, I think he likes Ryan Day, and Ryan Day is a nice guy.

I don't agree. Try telling the fans. side of that hatred. Victor Wenbanyama signed an extent with Nike and will be getting a signature shoot. Does that make sense? Anything built around Victor Wimbaniama is smart. Yes. Last one, the Yankees beat my Cubs.

Two nothing this afternoon at Wrigley and a matinee. That's significant. This explains everything. It explains everything. Two solo shots for the Yankees stay. By the way, they've been in Chicago for about a week. Split with the White Sox. And they lost walk off back-to-back games and extra innings against the White Sox.

I got that. The Cubs had a couple of walkoffs. They split those and now lose the Yankees. Possible world. Not starting my weekend off and over. We're out of time. Thanks for watching. I'm Frank I sold.

I'm Mike Wilbon. Have a great weekend, knuckleheads. And now, you know what's coming? Frank and I are going to go to the window. I put down some money. I said God and you said garbage. Hey, y'all. It's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair.

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