The Trump administration is trying to turn the USMNT into its own private political wallpaper. Leave it to the US Department of Homeland Security to tweet far-right, anti-immigrant posts in the context of the USMNT’s World Cup match against Australia yesterday.

On writing, on learning to write, on observing.... @elifshafak.bsky.social reminding us that sometimes the most interesting is the stuff we make up

"No Ukrainian socialists, trade unionists, feminists or LGBTQ+ activists have been invited to speak at this conference. Our voices — the voices of those resisting imperialism, fighting for social justice, and living this war — are absent." ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2026/06/19/o...

As a matter of URGENCY, PLEASE could 100,000 of you sign this petition in the next week: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/77...

Yeah, tell me again that the World Cup wasn’t just an opportunity to normalize fascism even more.

Hope we're all a bit in love with this guy x

And one for the committed, a long discussion of Men's World Cup histories, associated writings about football, and the reasons many care, in many different ways

For the non-football/soccer types, a useful intro to this year's Men's World Cup, and whole bunches of sporty types are angry about it....

The UK govt has just admitted they can change student loan interest rates at will: time to scrsp them. the.organise.network/campaigns/ra...

someone on tumblr said it better than i could

“The reality of sports is that we accept unfairness all the time.”

Protest stencils painted on the FIFA headquarters in Zurich this week.

“I don’t do this embroidery stuff with the intention of being in the fashion world, I do it with the intention of being an artist. I try to bridge the gap and let people know that embroidery is art, and fashion is a way for people to get into my stuff.“

Nine years since 72 were killed by corporate greed and class contempt in one of the richest boroughs in London, and still no justice for #Grenfell m.youtube.com/watch?v=ztUa...

9 years since Grenfell and still no justice

a review of mine of a new book by David Rowe, Bonnie Pang and Keith Parry (Playing on the Edge) on sport in Asia-Pacific is just out (recognising the complexity of the geographical label): it's an impressive and valuable view from and of multiple edges @idrottsforum.bsky.social

with the Men's football World Cup descending into totalitarian charade, it's not the only mega-event where there's dissent: things are kicking off for the Brisbane #Olympics in 2032, with, as is so often the way, First Nations at he forefront....

one of the contemporary greats - the superb Elif Shafak - on two the finest writers I have read: Carson McCullers, whose work in all its wonder is the epitome of (political) solidarity, and Marjane Satrapi, who understood and represents struggle(s) in ways, and reaching audiences, few others did

All Souls College, Oxford, is seeking 5 Postdoctoral Research Fellows in - Asian and Middle Eastern Studies - History of Art/History of Music - Law - Life Science - Theoretical Computer Science These are 5-year appointments starting autumn 2027. Deadline: 4 Sep 2026 www.asc.ox.ac.uk/post-doctora...

MARC BLOCH COMIC BOOK. This is not a drill. MARC BLOCH COMIC BOOK!!! www.tallandier.com/livre/marc-b... #MedievalSky #Skystorians

"Behold the Joyless World Cup: The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US is becoming a spectacle of greed, social exclusion, & authoritarianism." By @edgeofsports.bsky.social & me for @rosaluxstiftung.bsky.social www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/5...

VACANCY: Lecturer in Sociology (focus on race, ethnicity, intersecting inequalities) @uomsociology.bsky.social 4 years from 1 Oct 2026, £42,254 p.a., full time Closing date: Weds 17 June 2026 www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Some superb podcasts from Karim in recent weeks - sign up and support his work.

Truly awful (not to mention anti-democratic), but I'm heartened to hear at least that the vast majority of boat captains were against this trans-exclusionary policy. The kids are alright.

During his last visit in Johannesburg, Léopold was taken north of Pretoria, to the township of Mabopane by Mpho Moshe Matheolane to visit the Odi stadium—the remarkable architectural twin of the Mmabatho Stadium, in Mmabatho on the other side of what used to be Bophuthatswana between 1977 and 1994.

New Research Alert! "Israeli Hasbara and the NBA's Palestine Exception: The Impossibility of Capitalist “Social Justice”" by Chen Chen, Anthony Weems, Roc Rochon, and Daniel Sailofsky journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

would you accept this if the words were about excluding a black or brown person? If not then you should be writing to your MP and the EHRC today.

Read the new #OpenAccess article by Arturo Zoffmann Rodriguez on the #Ovambo #Genocide in #Angola. #colonialism #Portugal #violence #famine bit.ly/4rhHhQl

Two more week to submit your proposal for a special issue on gender, crisis and childhood! #childhood #gender #history

This morning’s fascinating keynote lecture has been beautifully captured by our artist Martin Hoare. #haconf26 #womenshistory #workingclasshistory

A boycott of this year's men's football World Cup looks unlikely, but the resistance is extensive: free football from capital! open.substack.com/pub/elevenna...

The Nakba cracked open a wound that could never truly heal, but instead became inherited as a living legacy across generations.

Back in January I wasn’t able to attend the launch party for Issue 100, but behind the scenes I was busy preparing a new series of digital articles and podcasts to celebrate this HWJ milestone 🎉 It turns out doing what you love can pull you through dark times and help you navigate grief...

You’ve probably already seen this, but in case not: Add your name to the open letter, and stand against hate and division. goodlawproject.org/s/4ca10b

Far right newspapers are trying to run a smear campaign against Misan Harriman. We can't let them. Add your name to the open letter, and stand against hate and division. goodlawproject.org/s/4ca10b

"Artificial intelligence (AI) did not arrive as an external disruption to a healthy system. It arrived as the logical conclusion of a process already well advanced, the progressive removal of the human soul from knowledge." www.universityworldnews.com/post-mobile....

When everything shifts at once... how do you make sense of it? As part of our Key Words series, supported by The Raymond Williams Foundation, Chris Goldie unpacks the concept of conjuncture. www.redpepper.org.uk/key-words/ke...

#NASSH has been promoting the scholarly study of sport history since 1972. We support research, writing, and collaboration with organizations that share our mission — because sport has never just been about the score. 🔗 nassh.org/about-nassh #SportHistory #Skystorians

I love how this poem moves from funny to serious I've seen this. The bar in Belfast International Airport. We heard the alarm, could smell the smoke & sat on & finished our pints. I have witnessed the second half of the poem too. It's time to pour our pints on the fire #Poetry #Poemoftheday

The Spring 2026 issue of the Journal of Sport History (Vol. 53, No. 1) is now available, featuring seven articles, a forum on smell and sport history, film and museum reviews, and book reviews. 🔗 scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/jsh/issu... #SportHistory #Skystorians

NASSH has been promoting the scholarly study of sport history since 1972. We support research, writing, and collaboration with organizations that share our mission — because sport has never just been about the score. 🔗 nassh.org/about-nassh #SportHistory #NASSH

CFP: the state on the humanities (submissions close 15 May)

CFP: Playing with History - submissions due 11 May: oh, so tempting @wendyrussell.bsky.social

The second @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social x @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility showcase is approaching fast! We have another round of fascinating papers from brilliant young scholars - sign up here! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Really interesting new work about Open Educational Resources from @drclairebrennan.bsky.social, Claire Ovaska and Don Garden, reflecting on teaching histories of Pacific exploration and the rich digital afterlives one course found in digital public history. #OER Read here ⬇️ doi.org/10.1080/0082...

PAKISTAN: Hugo Boss and LPP urged to rejoin Pakistan Accord on Rana Plaza anniversary fashionunited.uk/news/fashion...

BBC News - Reform UK will tell Welsh museums how to present history, manifesto says www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... This is going down a dangerous path

'Twelve British universities paid a private firm run by former military intelligence officials to “spy” on student protesters and academics including those who have expressed solidarity with Palestine, it can be revealed.'

We are proud to support @localhistoryhub.bsky.social's #LocalHistoryDay Our Learning Manager Tia Shah explores why teaching local history is a great way of engaging young people on migration – and highlighting some digital resources to get you started: www.migrationmuseum.org/why-teaching...