.jpg&w=500&h=500)
.jpg&w=64&h=64)
Football Weekly Ted Lasso star Brendan Hunt talks about the World Cup at SXSW – Football Weekly
Mar 20, 2026
Brendan Hunt, writer and actor known for Ted Lasso, chats with Barry Glendenning, long-serving columnist and comic pundit, and Alexander Abnos, The Guardian’s senior US soccer editor. They swap stories about Ted Lasso’s origins, American soccer culture and credibility, World Cup hosting and 2026 hopes, MLS and Premier League moments, and why Wrexham’s storytelling hooks US audiences.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Inverting the Pyramid Was Brendan's Personal Prop
- Brendan Hunt revealed the Inverting the Pyramid book on set was his personal copy and later received a signed expanded edition from Jonathan Wilson.
- He described production jokes about runners and how the book reappears throughout the series, including an episode title referencing it.
Ted Lasso's Kindness Emerged As A Deliberate Contrast
- Brendan Hunt said Ted Lasso's kindness tone emerged to counter toxic political discourse and inauthentic portrayals during the era the show was written.
- The show evolved from loud sketch adverts to a sensitive, curious coach inspired by Midwestern mentors and a desire for a different American image.
World Cup Hosting Creates A Moral Dilemma For Journalists
- Alexander Abnos framed hosting the World Cup in the US as a dilemma between promoting the sport and confronting harsh domestic policies like federal agent violence.
- He argued moving the tournament is unrealistic but acknowledged hosting while such issues persist is justified public concern.
