The FIFA World Cup has taken over Toronto, Vancouver and cities across the United States and Mexico. Here in Canada, its early days were marred by pro-Palestinian activists protesting Israel's membership in FIFA. Our sports podcasters ask: Do these people know Israel isn't competing in the World Cup?

FIFA head Gianni Infantino, meanwhile, is once again moving in the opposite direction, pushing to create a friendly match between Israel and Palestine's under-15 teams.

Both examples point to a bizarre trend: using the World Cup, a major sporting event spotlighting dozens of countries worldwide (none of which are Israel), to focus on Israel. Can we just focus on the sport, please?

Meanwhile, online trolls are injecting antisemitism into yet another sport that's largely devoid of Jews. After the New York Knicks won the NBA Championship last week, a strange amount of attention is being paid to its Jewish celebrity fans and their comments (Jerry Seinfeld)—or lack of comments (Alana Haim)—about Palestine.

The Menschwarmers dig into all this, plus Jalen Brunson's Jewish wife, the Carolina Hurricanes' Jewish general manager, and Belgium's Jewish-adjacent soccer goalie.

Credits

• Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Coby Lipovitch (intro), chēēZ π (main theme, " Organ Grinder Swing ")

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