The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history — but beyond the viewing figures and commercial spectacle, what does it do to us psychologically?

In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Professor Binna Kandola OBE to explore the psychology behind the world’s biggest sporting, and emotional, event.

Drawing on research from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they examine how expectation gaps shape supporter wellbeing, why moderate hope tends to produce healthier emotional outcomes than either blind optimism or low expectations, and how football can influence our mood without fundamentally changing overall life satisfaction.

A conversation that reveals more about human psychology than you might expect from a football tournament.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

References:

• Robinson, M. A., Davis, M. C., & Unsworth, K. L. (2023). Expectation-achievement gaps and satisfaction in World Cup football supporters: a quasi-experiment. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(5), 1304–1327. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2021.2007278