In 1934, tens of thousands packed into a stadium in Rome, where Italy would go on to win the World Cup.

It should have been a celebration of sport and diplomacy—but more so, it was a carefully staged display of power.

As Italy lifted the trophy on home soil, Benito Mussolini used the tournament to manufacture nationalism and reshape how the world understood his regime. Ahead, we return to that moment to understand what was really at play.

Power Plays is a podcast about how authoritarian governments use sport to shape perception, control narratives, and legitimize power. From fascist Italy to modern-day regimes, this series traces how the World Cup has been used for something far beyond fraternal competition.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How authoritarian regimes use sport to legitimize power
• Rimet’s idealism vs. Mussolini’s manipulation
• How the 1934 World Cup rebranded fascist Italy
• The violent, controversial matches (including the quarterfinal against Spain)
• How the infrastructure & media staged a controlled national image
• Why foreign journalists praised Italy’s efficiency & “modernity”
• Why there was hardly any visible dissent

Connect:

• Website: hrf.org
• Instagram: @hrf
• YouTube: @humanrightsfdn
• Facebook: humanrightsfoundation
• X: @HRF

Coming soon! We’ve partnered with La Media Inglesa to bring you the full episode on YouTube, premiering in June 2026.

Created by Karim Zidan and Elie Bleier.

Produced by Elie Bleier and Robert Scaramuccia.

Media strategy by Guillermo Purchese and Marielle Marlys.