May 19, 2026 6:30 pm
Town Hall Seattle, Livestream (Hybrid)
Pay What You WillRecordedLivestreamComing Soon CART Captioning
Ron Krabill
As Seattle gears up to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the city finds itself at the center of a heated debate: Is the tournament an economic catalyst or a misuse of public funds? A celebration of Seattle’s cultural vibrancy or a distraction from pressing regional challenges? A thrilling chance to witness the world’s greatest athletes—or a calculated profit grab by global elites?
This talk invites audiences to explore five distinct perspectives on the political and cultural impact of the tournament—offering a more nuanced, thought-provoking look at what the World Cup means for Seattle and the world.
Registration opens March 10, 2026.
About the speaker
Ron Krabill
Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell; Director, Global Sport Lab, Jackson School of International Studies, UW Seattle
Ron Krabill is a Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell and the Inaugural Director of the Global Sport Lab in the Jackson School of International Studies at UW Seattle. A scholar of media and cultural studies, his work explores the intersections of media, politics, and human rights—particularly in South Africa—as well as critical pedagogy, international education, and the global politics of soccer.
He is the author of Starring Mandela and Cosby: Media and the End(s) of Apartheid (University of Chicago Press, 2010) and co-editor of Feminist Interventions in Participatory Media: Pedagogy, Publics, Practice (Routledge, 2018). A UW faculty member since 2002, Krabill is a recipient of the UW Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Teaching for Teams Award for his work co-founding and co-directing the UWB Global Scholars Program, which expands access to international education for marginalized students.
Building on his research in South Africa, Krabill led a UW study abroad program to the 2010 World Cup, partnering with the Seattle Sounders, Cape Town Community Television, the University of Cape Town, and local media activists to produce and broadcast short documentaries on the Cup’s impact in Cape Town. He has since directed six additional study abroad programs focused on the politics of soccer, including trips to Spain, France during the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and Rwanda in 2023.
As Director of the Global Sport Lab, Krabill is advancing UW’s leadership in critical sport studies while expanding public programming and civic engagement around the intersection of sports and social justice.