Zohran Mamdani’s Fifa fight is a blueprint for the left to re-engage with sports | Leander Schaerlaeckens

Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Democratic nominee for the New York City mayoral election, has taken on a campaign to reform FIFA, the governing body of global soccer. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is the overwhelming favorite to win the election and become the city's first Muslim mayor. Mamdani's petition to reform FIFA blends progressive politics with an audience that has traditionally been dominated by the right. His campaign is seen as a blueprint for the left to re-engage with sports, an area where the right has often held sway. Mamdani's initiative has gained attention, with supporters like filmmaker Spike Lee joining him at an Arsenal bar in Brooklyn to watch a match. The article suggests that Mamdani's efforts to reform FIFA could be a strategic move to appeal to a broader electorate and showcase his progressive agenda. The article highlights the potential significance of Mamdani's campaign in shifting the political landscape around sports and engaging the left with an audience that has historically been more receptive to conservative viewpoints.