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Experts on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Ukraine and France playing a football match
Photo: OLEKSANDR PRYKHODKO/Mostphotos

Researchers from Lund University who can comment on various aspects of the World Cup in North America.

Football clothing through the ages

Lars-Eric Jönsson, Professor of Ethnology
Has written an analysis of how football shorts have changed in appearance and length over the course of football history.
Phone: +46 70 699 19 98, +46 46 222 43 11
Email: lars-eric [dot] jonsson [at] kultur [dot] lu [dot] se (lars-eric[dot]jonsson[at]kultur[dot]lu[dot]se) 
Lars-Eric Jönsson’s profile in Lund University’s research portal

Middle East, Islam, politics and football

Leif Stenberg, Visiting Professor at Affiliated Islamic Studies at the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies
Can comment on: the Middle East, religion, Islam, politics and football. During the 2026 World Cup, 8 or 9 national teams from the Middle East and North Africa are likely to participate, including Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and possibly Iran.
Phone: +46 72 229 01 12
Email: leif [dot] stenberg [at] ctr [dot] lu [dot] se (leif[dot]stenberg[at]ctr[dot]lu[dot]se) 
Leif Stenberg’s profile in Lund University’s research portal

Sport, politics and sports history

Björn Lundberg, Historian
Can comment on: sports history and the relationship between sport and politics during the 20th century.
Email: bjorn [dot] lundberg [at] hist [dot] lu [dot] se (bjorn[dot]lundberg[at]hist[dot]lu[dot]se) 
Björn Lundberg’s research in Lund University’s research portal

Sportswashing

Katarzyna Herd, Ethnologist
Studies football as a cultural phenomenon. In addition to sportswashing, she can speak about football as a ritual, recruitment system, emotions and symbolic capital.
Email: katarzyna [dot] herd [at] kultur [dot] lu [dot] se (katarzyna[dot]herd[at]kultur[dot]lu[dot]se) 
Katarzyna Herd’s research in Lund University’s research portal