The system is breaking downβ¦ π₯π In Twenty Twenty Six S01E05 6 (2026), tensions rise as hidden truths and future consequences begin to collide.
As events spiral out of control, every decision pushes the story into a darker direction.
π Watch now and donβt miss this intense episode!
#TwentyTwentySix #S01E05 #S01E06 #DramaSeries #FullEpisode #Thriller
As events spiral out of control, every decision pushes the story into a darker direction.
π Watch now and donβt miss this intense episode!
#TwentyTwentySix #S01E05 #S01E06 #DramaSeries #FullEpisode #Thriller
Category
πΊ
TVTranscript
00:07It's another week at the 2026 Oversight Headquarters in Miami, and in the social media space, there's something cool happening.
00:14Like, what even is that?
00:15Keepy-uppies.
00:16Excuse me?
00:17Wait, keepy-uppies?
00:18You've never heard of keepy-uppies?
00:19What, like it's a thing?
00:20Oh, man.
00:22Yeah, no, it's great. It's really old.
00:25This is a big week, with FIFA about to unveil its official ball for the 2026 tournament.
00:30The team have been looking at ways to viralise the moment on social media, and it looks as if they
00:35might have literally stumbled across something.
00:38Whoa.
00:38Jesus.
00:39Head nice and still.
00:40Oh, my God.
00:41It's all about distribution away.
00:43This is so cool.
00:45Oh, sorry, Will.
00:47Yeah, no worries. Yeah, cool.
00:48Okay, bad luck. Just keep your head still, yeah?
00:51Oh, okay.
00:52Yeah, no, sorry, you're not crab.
00:54Okay.
00:55Nice, easy rhythm.
00:57Like, we should totally put this on the far corner, right?
00:59Right, like, oh my God.
01:00Okay.
01:00Like, as a challenge, right?
01:01Yeah, right, right, right, right.
01:02I'm not thinking about feet, they're just doing their own thing.
01:04Like, hashtag, keepy-uppie-challenge.
01:06Hashtag 2026.
01:07Like, you posted personal best, right?
01:08Right, I can totally see that.
01:10Okay, okay.
01:11Let's do it.
01:12Like, like, this is really cool, right?
01:14Right.
01:14Here, you want to try?
01:16Me?
01:16Yeah, like, you should totally try this.
01:18Yeah, no, I'm good.
01:19Okay.
01:19Yeah.
01:20Fine.
01:20Fine.
01:21So, we had to work hard on this with the venues and the manufacturers
01:24and our alternative technologies team, but we got there, right?
01:27We made it.
01:28Viva.
01:29Absolutely.
01:30Meanwhile, in the meeting room, Sarah is wearing her sustainability
01:33and climate strategy hat in a big way.
01:35So, we are now able to say, officially, that the lighting in all public areas around all
01:40of our stadiums and all of our venues will be powered exclusively by on-site solar-powered
01:45generators producing 100% sustainable electricity with zero environmental impact.
01:50Well, right.
01:51Well, that's really, I mean, that's really great.
01:53Yeah, there is something, right?
01:55Shine the light.
01:56Shine a light is the flagship initiative in her Better Place pledge to leave the host
02:01cities, North America, and ultimately the world itself in a better place after the
02:052026 tournament than wherever it was before it.
02:08This is cutting-edge technology.
02:10Yes.
02:10We're shifting the paradigm for how these events are managed around the world.
02:13Exactly.
02:13Yes.
02:14Because from now on, things are going to be different.
02:16Say, when?
02:17Because they have to be, right?
02:18Bravo.
02:19Sarah.
02:27So, there's a chip in the ball, right?
02:30They put a chip in the ball.
02:32Like, who is this guy, right?
02:33Right, right.
02:34What they don't tell you is that chip is a Chinese chip.
02:37Okay, so this is not good.
02:38As in, it is a Chinese-made chip, right?
02:42Need I say any more?
02:43He's an odd case.
02:44Okay, so you cannot actually say that.
02:45Yeah, right, right, right.
02:46But meanwhile, back in the world of balls, there's been an unforeseen development.
02:50Like, this is actually the same chip they're using in Chinese military drones and nuclear warheads.
02:56Of course, they don't want you to know that.
02:58What?
02:59Like, oh my god, that is so yikes.
03:00Oh my god.
03:00A copy of an email has appeared online, which claims that in early trials, players are unhappy
03:06with the new 2026 ball, which they say doesn't behave normally through the air, prompting
03:11a virtual overreaction on social media.
03:13All right, thanks for watching, guys.
03:15You know where I am.
03:16You can subscribe here.
03:17I'm also there on Instagram.
03:19Hashtag, things that I want you to know.
03:21In the meantime, no fear, no doubt, no sleep.
03:29Right, so that's it.
03:30Okay.
03:30Right.
03:31Okay, so this guy...
03:32So this has come from nowhere, right?
03:33Right.
03:33Totally.
03:34Right, like I've literally never heard of him, right?
03:35Right, so this is Thunderbird Stingray.
03:37What?
03:37Right, so that's probably not his real name, right?
03:39Right.
03:39I hope not.
03:40Like he has like this channel, like things they don't want you to know.
03:43Yeah, yeah.
03:43Right.
03:44Yeah, you see, for me, I'm sorry, but for me...
03:46I'm sorry, you're crap.
03:47For me, the guy's a nutcase.
03:48So that is not okay, okay?
03:49I mean, he's sitting in his bedroom, he has about 12 subscribers.
03:51So actually he has like 300, right?
03:53Right.
03:53Okay.
03:54Right, actually 372.
03:55Right.
03:56Okay, 372 other nutcases sitting in their bedrooms.
03:59Okay, so...
03:59I mean, I'm sorry, but it's hashtag grow up, get off your ass and get a fucking life, right?
04:03Yeah, right, right, right.
04:14Why would I do that?
04:16I don't need to.
04:17I don't need to tell him, why would I?
04:19Okay, well, it's not his condo either, right?
04:21It's...
04:22By the next morning, it's already Tuesday.
04:24I don't care.
04:25So that's just a legal thing, right?
04:27That's just a...
04:28Okay, well...
04:29Yeah, absolutely.
04:30No.
04:31Absolutely.
04:31That is a plan and we will talk again soon.
04:34Okay.
04:34Absolutely great.
04:35Sure.
04:35Bye.
04:36Bye-bye.
04:37Hi.
04:38Morning.
04:39Just thought I'd pick up a coffee before I start.
04:41Absolutely.
04:42By the way, I know I should be drinking ashwagandha tea instead.
04:46Well...
04:46I know, you left some for me in the survival pack in the apartment.
04:49Right.
04:49And I will start drinking it, I promise, but sometimes...
04:52Right.
04:53So the guy showed up to fix the garbage disposal?
04:55Yes, yes.
04:56Great.
04:56No, thanks very much for that.
04:58Sure.
04:58It was a spoon, apparently.
04:59It was my fault, I shouldn't have taken the thing off.
05:01Probably not, no.
05:02By the way, it's so great, you know.
05:04The condo?
05:04Really, honestly, I can't tell you, so...
05:06Well, you know I'm glad.
05:08Talking of the environment, I see that Shine Your Light went live on the website this morning.
05:12Right.
05:13Looks great.
05:14You had any reaction yet?
05:16Right.
05:16So, actually, as of now, not yet?
05:19Right.
05:20No.
05:20Still.
05:21It's early days, right?
05:22Absolutely.
05:22And it's out there now.
05:24Absolutely.
05:24Yeah, it's real.
05:25There you go.
05:26Saving the world again.
05:27Anna, stop it.
05:28I bet you say that to all the sustainability girls.
05:30I probably shouldn't say this, but who knows.
05:33Maybe the world really can be a better place after all, right?
05:36Right.
05:36In spite of everything.
05:38Yes.
05:38So, that's all good then.
05:40Yes.
05:44Yes.
05:45They can control it whenever they want, like with free kicks or penalties, like there's
05:49actually a building in Beijing, like there's footage out there, like it's insane.
05:54Right, okay.
05:54Huh.
05:55I mean, fuck's sake, this guy can barely type.
05:57By nine o'clock, with stories about the chip in the 2026 ball now proliferating fast amongst
06:02highly trained conspiracy theorists online, the Strategic Operations Group, or SOG, has
06:07gathered in the meeting room.
06:08It can connect with any wifi network wherever it is, using AI to bypass password and security,
06:12and they can harvest information from computers or phones on that network without anyone knowing.
06:16What?
06:17Exactly.
06:17Yes, I mean, you're kidding.
06:18Okay, so this is not a joke, okay?
06:20This stuff is out there.
06:21It's like, where do these guys come from?
06:23It's outrageous.
06:24There's another one somewhere.
06:25I saw it earlier.
06:26The ball can listen.
06:27Exactly, yes.
06:28Yes, well, listen.
06:29Yeah.
06:29Exactly.
06:30What to?
06:31What do you mean, what to?
06:33What kind of a fucking question is that?
06:35Okay, well...
06:35I mean, us, I guess, in this case.
06:37Us?
06:38Yeah.
06:38Christ.
06:39I mean, if that's true, you gotta say, it's impressive.
06:42Well, I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I don't find that easy a lot of the time,
06:44and I've got ears.
06:45Yes.
06:46Exactly so.
06:46The official f***er 2026 football is made by a**as, who we're unable to name for legal
06:52reasons.
06:53And the pressure is on to establish, firstly, what the actual truth about the ball is, and
06:57then, crucially, whether that's going to be believable.
06:59I mean, perhaps before we get drawn any further into the whole, you know...
07:02We're looking at a bottomless pit of shit here.
07:04Yes, well, that's one way.
07:05Yeah, 100%.
07:05Yes, as I say, before we get drawn any further into that, shall we just back up a moment and
07:10try and establish a few facts here?
07:12Ah, yes.
07:12Interesting.
07:13Yeah, that'd be something.
07:13Yes, because just to be clear about what we're dealing with here, in terms of the optics
07:17of this...
07:18Exactly, yes.
07:18I mean, because, well, there is a chip in the ball, isn't there?
07:20Oh, yeah.
07:21Well, we know that, so that's actually true.
07:23Of course there is.
07:23I mean, otherwise, how are we going to know where it is?
07:26Yes.
07:26Yes, and so, just out of interest then, is it Chinese made, do we know?
07:30What, the chip?
07:30Yes.
07:31I mean, I don't know.
07:32Probably, right?
07:32How do I know that?
07:33Do we know that, Eric?
07:35Well, because I know Zurich's been working very closely with ... through all the development
07:39stages of this.
07:40Well, exactly.
07:40So, then perhaps we can say we are all Chinese now, yes?
07:44Right, okay.
07:44It is where we are.
07:46When?
07:46Okay, fuck.
07:49Okay, so, with something like this, the only people that are going to visit the website
07:52are people who already know that it's there, right?
07:54Right.
07:55Okay, totally.
07:56Right, and the thing about the people who already know it's there is they already know
07:59it's there, right?
08:01Right, right.
08:01Meanwhile, Sarah is with the social media team, analyzing early reaction to her Shine
08:06a Light campaign.
08:07And with three comments posted on the website so far, two of them from Ian Fletcher, the main
08:12takeaway is that there hasn't really been one.
08:14It's like the people that you need to reach out to here are the people that are not going
08:16to visit the website.
08:17Okay.
08:18Like, they have literally no idea what it is.
08:20Right.
08:20Like, this is a huge audience, right?
08:22Right, totally.
08:22Yeah, right, it's huge.
08:24Yeah, right, right, right.
08:24But fortunately, as usual, they've got the whole of the internet at their finger and
08:28thumb tips.
08:29Okay.
08:30Okay, so apparently the Rolling Stones actually sang this song, Shine a Light.
08:33Okay.
08:34The Rolling Stones?
08:35Right, yes.
08:36Okay.
08:36Right.
08:37Ew.
08:37Wait, what happened?
08:40Not going to work.
08:41No way.
08:41Okay, sure.
08:42Their task is to find a way of connecting Shine a Light with a younger and almost universally
08:48unaware audience on social media.
08:50So wait, is that...?
08:50Okay, so that's Keep the Uppies.
08:52Keep the Uppies.
08:52Right.
08:53For the ball launch.
08:54Okay.
08:54So cool.
08:55So cool.
08:55Like, it's literally gone crazy.
08:57Right, right, right.
08:57Okay, but that's Will, right?
09:00What?
09:00Will.
09:01Oh, wow.
09:02No way.
09:04Will, you posted a video.
09:06Yeah.
09:06That's so cool.
09:07Yeah, so I've been practicing so I can do, like, my personal best.
09:09Right.
09:10Like, that's your personal best?
09:11No, but the hat.
09:12You say it again?
09:13In the video, you're wearing the Shine a Light hat.
09:15Yeah, no.
09:16Yeah.
09:17Okay.
09:18Oh, my God.
09:18Yeah, so Ian Fletcher gave it to me.
09:20Like, he said I could wear it.
09:21Okay, okay.
09:21So, like, if Will was like, I don't know, like, Cristiano Ronaldo, right?
09:24No.
09:25Right.
09:25No.
09:25Like, oh, my God.
09:26Like, oh, my God.
09:27Shut up.
09:28Yeah, I know you're crap.
09:42Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the official ball for the soccer world took a more serious turn overnight,
09:47with President Trump posting on Trump that the governing body for world soccer should get rid of the Chinese chip
09:55in the ball,
09:55which he says can actually listen to what you say, and replace it with an American chip made by ,
10:01which he says is far superior anyway.
10:04Our sports correspondent Dan Howard has been following this story and is outside the White House now.
10:09Dan, this is a story that just got a lot more serious, right?
10:12That's right, Alex.
10:13As you say, this is a story that got more serious overnight.
10:16It's Wednesday morning, and the issue with the ball has got a lot more serious overnight.
10:21And with the President posting again in the last few minutes,
10:23this time suggesting that they should replace the ball itself,
10:27Adidas being a German company, of course, and replace it with a ball.
10:30Right, okay.
10:31Now, we here at CNC News have approached for comment.
10:34Unfortunately, they haven't gotten back to us yet.
10:36And with the President...
10:38I mean, the idea of us dropping everything completely at this point.
10:41Yeah.
10:42Uh...
10:43Excuse me?
10:43I mean, presumably, that would be, you know...
10:45No, no, no.
10:46Yes, so, we can say this could be complicated.
10:49Complicated?
10:49Exactly so.
10:50Okay, you want to know how much the contract with the d*** is worth over the next ten years?
10:53Well, uh...
10:53700 million dollars.
10:54Right, okay.
10:55700...
10:55Yes.
10:56It's not complicated. That's apocalypse now.
10:58Yes, and then, when it comes to the idea of replacing the Huawei chip with the d*** chip...
11:02Oh, please.
11:02Okay, so, these are just details, but first of all, d*** don't actually make their own chips.
11:07They're actually made out of either Taiwan or South Korea.
11:09Right.
11:10Yeah, and also, this is actually pretty interesting.
11:12I believe w*** they currently supply the hardware for a lot of the US administration's own systems.
11:17Right.
11:17But like I say, those are just, you know...
11:19They're just facts.
11:20Yes. I mean, obviously, we need to get ahead of this pretty quickly.
11:22Absolutely.
11:23But when it comes to... but when it comes to exactly what the narrative is here...
11:27Okay, so what you have here is you have a fire here, and the forest is dry, yes?
11:31Right.
11:31Right, we're on fire.
11:32Okay, then in Mexico we have a saying.
11:35La manera de extinguir un incendio pequeΓ±o es con un incendio mΓ‘s grande.
11:38Ah, yes.
11:38Right, well, the way to extinguish...
11:40Yes.
11:40The way to extinguish...
11:41Yes, extinguish a small fire...
11:42A small fire is with a bigger one.
11:44A bigger one, yes.
11:44Yes, exactly.
11:45Yes. So how do we do that?
11:46Bueno, then this is the question here, yes?
11:48Right.
11:49This is what I am saying.
11:49Yes.
11:50Exactly so, yes.
11:53Also, nothing back from Lionel Messi, but they did ask us to send him the hat.
11:57Okay.
11:58Cool.
11:59Over in the social media space, having come up with the idea of mashing up their keepy-uppy
12:03ball campaign with Sarah's Shine a Light environmental initiative, all thanks to Will, the team has
12:09been busy reaching out to global sports stars to keep the ball up and wear the hat, but so
12:14far without much luck.
12:15Okay, so we keep going here, right?
12:17Like, it doesn't even have to be a soccer player.
12:19Like, it could be...
12:19Right, totally.
12:20Right, it could be anybody, right?
12:21Right, like, even Will has like 300 views now, right?
12:23Right.
12:24Yeah.
12:24Right, so it could be anybody, right?
12:26Right.
12:26Totally.
12:27Yeah, cool, yeah, it could be anybody, yeah, cool.
12:29And no one is more keenly aware than Sarah of what's at stake if they could somehow pull
12:33this off.
12:33Okay, so Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Chad Vandergriff, Mohamed Salah, Abidal Kapomer,
12:40Kylian Mbappe, Narendra Modi...
12:42Wait, Narendra Modi?
12:44Okay, wait.
12:44Yeah, like he plays for Real Madrid, right?
12:46Uh, so...
12:47No way.
12:47What?
12:48No way.
12:48What?
12:49They love the hat.
12:49Who does?
12:50Uh, Lionel Messi, his people.
12:52Okay.
12:52Lionel Messi?
12:53Whoa, no.
12:54They love the hat, they love the idea, he wants to do it.
12:56Okay, okay.
12:57Oh my gosh.
12:58Cool.
12:59Will?
12:59Yeah, I know, yeah, that's just like mental.
13:01Can I hug you?
13:02Uh, yeah.
13:03Could that be okay?
13:05Yeah, okay, cool.
13:11I'm so sorry, I just had to do that.
13:13Yeah, no, no worries, yeah, cool.
13:27Wait, you're saying legally I have to tell him?
13:29It's another morning, and for Sarah, it's another cup of tea at the start of another day.
13:34Tell him, I don't care, what's he gonna do about it, right?
13:37Okay, so sue me, go ahead, but you can tell him from me that I...
13:41Absolutely, no, absolutely, okay, sure.
13:44Bye, bye-bye.
13:45Oh, right.
13:46Oh, hi.
13:46I thought I might find you in here.
13:48Absolutely.
13:48Can't go on a meeting like this, right?
13:50Yes, no.
13:51I was just...
13:51Oh, by the way, congratulations on the news about Messi and the hat.
13:54Right.
13:55I mean, that would be amazing if that happened.
13:57Sure.
13:57I mean, wouldn't it?
13:58So, his management has been in touch.
14:00Right.
14:01And they're asking about the issue with the ball.
14:02Right, yes.
14:04So.
14:04Yes.
14:05Right when we were this close.
14:06No, but I'm sure we'll find a way.
14:08I mean, in the end, it's just a problem.
14:11It's just a problem?
14:12Well, there are all kinds of problems, aren't there?
14:14And I think we're at a point with this one where the only way out of it is to find
14:16a solution.
14:17Right.
14:18I mean, that's literally the only way of dealing with it.
14:20So, no, I mean, it's exciting.
14:22Right.
14:22Yeah, so anyway, a big day, but I just wanted to find you.
14:25It's a bit embarrassing, but I think with everything going on, I managed to leave my keys behind in the
14:29flat this morning.
14:29Okay.
14:58I mean, locked inside, obviously.
15:00We're describing recent comments by President Trump about the Chinese-made computer chip in the ball as unacceptable and offensive.
15:06Our diplomatic correspondent Andrew Duclair has been following this story and is in Beijing.
15:11Andrew, this is a story that just got a lot more serious in the last few minutes, right?
15:15Well, Alex, as you say, this is a story that has gotten a lot more serious in the last few
15:19minutes.
15:20Meanwhile, it looks as if the issue with the official ball has got more serious still in the last few
15:25minutes,
15:25with China's President Xi Jinping now threatening to pull out of a scheduled meeting with President Trump at the G20
15:31summit in Paris.
15:32The first meeting between the two men since the last time they met.
15:35Okay, so this is not good.
15:36Well, no.
15:36President Trump, as is his way, of course, appears to be doubling down with a series of new posts,
15:42with another one coming in just in the last few moments, describing the new solar-powered generators to be deployed
15:47across all 2026 venues as Chinese fake tech.
15:50It's not good news for anyone, but especially not if your mission in life as the person responsible for sustainability
15:56and climate strategy is to make the world a better place.
16:00...saying they should be replaced instead with US-made diesel generators running on US gas, which he describes as common
16:06sense.
16:07Fuck's sake.
16:08Where's Sarah?
16:08Sarah.
16:09Yes.
16:09She's in the kitchen, I think.
16:10Yes.
16:11Okay.
16:11No, you're all right.
16:12She's gone.
16:15So, things are moving faster around here, yes?
16:17Exactly.
16:17I have good news.
16:18Zurich has been talking to the White House.
16:20Right.
16:21We have good relations there, as you know.
16:23Right, yes.
16:23Yeah.
16:24They have also been talking to Beijing.
16:26Okay.
16:26Who, Zurich now?
16:27Yes.
16:28Fortunately, we know our president is a personal friend with President Xi, of course.
16:32Right.
16:32Wait, a personal friend of President Xi?
16:34Ah, yes, yes.
16:35What the fuck does that mean?
16:36So, apparently, they share a love for opera.
16:39What?
16:39Huh.
16:39Perhaps we can say this is the power of football and music working together, yes?
16:44Yes, well, anyway.
16:44Opera?
16:45Uh, yes.
16:45Anyway, we will be releasing a statement shortly, which we hope will de-escalate the situation.
16:50Great.
16:51Okay.
16:51And which, we hope, will be acceptable to all the parties involved.
16:54Right, okay.
16:55Then hopefully we can all get back to football.
16:56Yes, exactly.
16:57Exactly so.
16:58So, good news, yes?
16:59Yes, but hang on.
17:00I mean, how?
17:01How?
17:01I mean, what kind of statement?
17:03What's going to be in it?
17:04Ah, yes.
17:05So, we can say they are very keen to know this.
17:08Right.
17:08Actually, we can say super keen.
17:10Right.
17:11Ah, okay.
17:12Well.
17:13What you mean is we're going to be releasing a statement.
17:15Well, fuck's sake.
17:17No, no, no.
17:17Perhaps we can say when the big moment arrives in the big game, this is where you find out
17:21who you are, yes?
17:22Well.
17:23No.
17:23You sure you want to know that?
17:24No, no, no.
17:25No, no, no.
17:25This is not any party.
17:26This is World War III, yes?
17:27Well, exactly, yes.
17:30Meanwhile, as rumors surrounding the Chinese chip in the ball continue to proliferate on
17:34social media, and with President Trump and President Xi Jinping apparently in a standoff,
17:39the pressure is building on 2026 organizers to find a solution to this problem before it gets
17:44a lot more serious.
17:45I mean, so in terms of what we know, we know we can't replace the chip with a different
17:49chip, and we know exactly why we can't do that.
17:51We know we can't replace the ball with a different ball, and again, we know exactly why we can't
17:55do that.
17:56Right.
17:56So we're starting from a place where we know quite a lot already, so that's all good.
18:00Yeah, right.
18:00With the world's media watching, and what would once have been diplomats in both Washington
18:05and Beijing waiting for an official statement from , this is about as serious as it can
18:10get.
18:10Unless it gets more serious still.
18:12I mean, is there a way, and listen, if I had a better idea I would tell you about it,
18:15but is there a way we could just turn this thing off?
18:18Right, okay.
18:19Turn it off.
18:20You mean the chip?
18:20Right.
18:21Sorry, what do you mean turn it off?
18:22Look, so look, I love technology as much as the next guy, so recently I've actually started
18:26sleeping with it, but in this case, it is the technology that got us where we are here,
18:32right?
18:32Well, yes, that's true.
18:33Right, so I'm just wondering.
18:34Okay.
18:35Okay.
18:35I mean, that's an interesting light to shine on this, isn't it?
18:38Interesting.
18:38Is it?
18:39I don't know.
18:39Fuck's sake.
18:40So, Nick, you don't seem to-
18:41So this is a chip, right?
18:43Right.
18:43Right.
18:43How do we know if it's on or off?
18:45Okay.
18:45How do we know what it's doing?
18:46Yeah, no, okay, yeah, fair point.
18:47So what, we get our guy to have a private word with President G at Kosey fan-fucking-tute?
18:52Yes.
18:52Or, I don't know, maybe we cut a deal.
18:54Maybe they get to keep the chip switched on if they promise not to invade Taiwan.
18:57Yes, okay.
18:57You know, actually, that's not a bad idea, actually.
18:59I mean, what are we, what is this, a fucking high school slumber party?
19:02Okay, bueno.
19:03So what you have here, this is a runaway train, yes?
19:05Whoa.
19:06Exactly.
19:06Then when you have a runaway train, what do you do?
19:08Well, you do it so you make sure you are laying the track, yes?
19:10Right.
19:11What?
19:11Exactly.
19:12I'm sorry, but I'm struggling here.
19:13So this is instead of the fire, is it?
19:14Excuse me?
19:15Yeah.
19:15Fire?
19:16Yes, I think that's a different-
19:17Obviously, this is not my area, but I'm pretty sure the train is on fire as well here.
19:20Exactly.
19:20Well, okay, yeah, got it.
19:21With the clock ticking, and the world waiting for a statement, the challenge is to find
19:26something acceptable to Zurich, Beijing, Washington, and conspiracy theorists the world over.
19:31And in an era of competing narratives, and with fact heavily circumcised, they need to
19:36find a story that's better than anyone else's story.
19:39Okay, so let's go back to the beginning and start again.
19:41Really?
19:41Hang on, haven't we done that once already?
19:42Well, sometimes when you tell yourself the story again, you see something that's been
19:45staring you in the face all along.
19:47Huh.
19:47Like-
19:48Yeah, like disaster.
19:49Okay, so the chips are made by .
19:50Correct.
19:51And just to be clear, all the software is .
19:53Right.
19:54Uh, well, no.
19:55Actually, I believe the ball-tracking software itself is actually US-based.
19:59Right.
19:59It's written by a bunch of 14-year-olds in Silicon Valley.
20:02Okay.
20:03Right, okay, right.
20:05Huh.
20:06Yeah.
20:09By the end of the afternoon, with the press now gathered outside, there's a growing sense
20:14that something has got to happen.
20:16Hi, yes, it's Ian.
20:18I'm not sure where you are at the moment, but I just wanted to say, just wanted to bring
20:20you up to speed, really.
20:21But in the meantime, Ian is having a brief moment in the kitchen.
20:25It looks like we're onto something, and if it works, then it could even be that this
20:28whole thing goes away as quickly as it flared up.
20:31So, for shine a light and for, you know, saving the world, basically, that's all good.
20:35Uh, yes, and then with the keys, I'm not quite sure what the plan was, so it might be good
20:39to firm up on that.
20:40Anyway, um, I hope you're well.
20:42Um, I mean, I hope you're okay.
20:44Yes, so, uh, anyway, we'll speak soon.
20:46Yes, bye.
20:51Oh, right.
20:52Okay, bueno.
20:53First things first.
20:54But eventually, after intensive track laying, and with the train still on fire, the time has
20:58finally come for someone to go downstairs and say something.
21:01There are a lot of TV crews down there now.
21:03Right.
21:03But we have said you will make one statement only, yes?
21:05Right, yes.
21:06And don't worry, I am there to protect you.
21:07Right, okay.
21:08So, in this situation, I am in midfield, I am controlling the game, you're just scoring
21:11the goals.
21:11Okay, yes.
21:12It's a perfect scenario.
21:13Yes.
21:13Ah, right.
21:14Yes.
21:14Okay, here we go.
21:15Yes, so, I've been in contact with Zurich.
21:17Right.
21:17What I can say to you is they are super happy with your statement.
21:20Right, okay.
21:20Super happy.
21:21Good.
21:21Exactly, yes.
21:22They just have one little thought.
21:23Yes, so, okay, just to save time here, I'm going to be making the statement that we agreed
21:26on in the room, if that's okay.
21:27Ah, yes.
21:27Yes.
21:28Not some other announcement that I haven't seen yet and that I won't have time to look
21:31at until it's coming out of my mouth.
21:32No.
21:32Well then, in this case, we can say good luck.
21:34Yes.
21:34Well, thank you.
21:35Yes, thank you.
21:36Yes, exactly so.
21:38Si.
21:39Si.
21:39So, we are avoiding mentioning a d*****, a d*****, a d*****, a d*****, a d*****, a d*****,
21:43a d*****, a d*****, a d*****, a d***** by name at any point.
21:45Right, yes.
21:45You can literally use any other words you like.
21:47Right.
21:47Donald d*****.
21:48I added that one.
21:49Right.
21:49You got a problem with that?
21:50No.
21:50Right, no.
21:52Okay, one.
21:53Great.
21:55Okay, so this is going to be great.
21:56Right, well.
21:57Good luck.
21:58Thanks.
21:58Yeah, good luck, mate.
21:59Yeah, cool, yeah.
22:00So, I guess I shouldn't say this and I mean it as a compliment, but in case it helps, I'm
22:04glad
22:04it's not me.
22:05Yeah, me too, yeah.
22:17So, thank you for gathering here for this and welcome to Oversight.
22:23So, we've become aware obviously in the last few days of a number of rumours surrounding
22:27the official ball in the 2026 tournament.
22:31So, it's a great opportunity for us to clarify things.
22:35So, for a while now there has been a chip in the ball used in many, if not most, professional
22:40soccer games.
22:41And there's nothing different about this tournament.
22:43But soccer is nothing if not a global game.
22:46And every four years the world comes together to celebrate that fact.
22:50So, it is no secret and no surprise to find that the chip in the 2026 ball is manufactured
22:56in China.
22:57Just as it is no surprise to find that the software that controls it is written and created here
23:03in the US.
23:03So, what do those two facts tell us?
23:06They tell a story of two of the greatest nations on earth, the US and China working together
23:12in lockstep, united in creative and technical endeavour, whether it's this or the cutting-edge
23:18solar power generators across all our venues and connected to the rest of the world through
23:23the power of sport.
23:24Soccer.
23:25The 2026 World Cup.
23:28We live in a complex and often troubled world.
23:32And I don't know about you, but that's a story we need to hear now more than ever.
23:37Who knows?
23:38Maybe the world can be a better place after all.
23:42In spite of everything.
23:45Mr. Fletcher, have you spoken with the president?
23:47Yes, thank you.
23:48Exactly so.
23:49Yes?
24:10Ah, hi.
24:11Hey.
24:12I hope you haven't been here long, this is so good of you.
24:14No, not at all.
24:15It's the end of a long day, and Sarah has come over with her spare set of keys to let
24:20Ian back into the apartment.
24:21So, I just wanted to say thank you.
24:23Me?
24:24No, I mean, what for?
24:25That was a brilliant thing you did.
24:27Oh, no, well, I mean, sometimes it's like with pilots and bad weather.
24:30Sometimes you can't go round it or over it, so in the end you just have to go through
24:33it.
24:34You know, that's so true.
24:36So, I want to show you something.
24:38Okay.
24:39You seen this?
24:40I don't know, depends what it is.
24:42Okay.
24:44Okay.
24:44Wow.
24:45They just posted it on the Far Corner site.
24:47That's amazing.
24:48Right, right?
24:52No, he's definitely better than Will.
24:54Right.
24:55How many followers has he got?
24:57500 million on Instagram.
24:59Right.
24:59Have we got 500 million hats?
25:02Anyway, I just thought you should see it.
25:04Well, no, that's amazing.
25:06I mean, well done, basically.
25:07Well, so, really, coming over here to let you in is the least I can do.
25:11Okay, well, anyway.
25:12Okay.
25:13It's very good of you.
25:15Oh.
25:16Okay.
25:19So...
25:20Okay.
25:21Actually, is that...
25:22I mean, has someone changed their locks?
25:24Okay.
25:25I mean, could that have happened?
25:26Okay.
25:26So, we should probably talk, I guess.
25:29Right.
25:29Right.
25:29No, look, I mean, it's fine.
25:31I'm truly sorry about this.
25:32No, honestly, really, it's fine.
25:33I'll phone the hotel.
25:34It is not fine.
25:35You know, they know me.
25:36I'm sure they'll be able to...
25:37Also, you're not going back to a hotel tonight.
25:38Honestly, it's...
25:39You're not.
25:40This is my fault.
25:41No, it's...
25:41No, it's not my fault.
25:42I mean, it's one of those things, isn't it?
25:44It's just...
25:44You're not going anywhere.
25:46There's room at my place.
25:48Right.
25:49If you would like that.
25:52Right.
25:56Time has passed at 2026 Oversight Headquarters in Miami.
26:01Director of Integrity Ian Fletcher has been here for nearly three months,
26:05in which time a lot has happened.
26:07And with the opening ceremony now suddenly just eight weeks away,
26:10there's a lot to think about.
26:15Good morning, Will.
26:17Oh, yeah, hey, good morning.
26:18That's great, thank you.
26:19Yeah, no worries, yeah, cool.
26:20Yeah.
26:20Anything you need to tell me about today?
26:22Yeah, I don't know, like what?
26:23Well, no, I'm asking you.
26:24Oh, cool, yeah, no worries, yeah, cool.
26:26Oh, yeah, so there's this guy trying to get hold of you, Howard Cottch.
26:29Oh, right, yeah, it's him.
26:30Yeah, I don't know who he is.
26:31No, well, as far as I can work out, he's basically a headhunter.
26:35Okay, what?
26:35No, I mean, I think he's working on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, isn't he?
26:39Yeah, so he keeps phoning?
26:40Right.
26:40Like he's called again twice already this morning.
26:42Okay, then I think you need to be a bit firmer with him.
26:44Yeah.
26:45Okay, so next time he calls, say that you've spoken to me, we've discussed it,
26:48and I'm sorry, but this really isn't the right time.
26:50I've got enough on my plate with 2026 as it is.
26:53So I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be speaking to him at this time.
26:56Okay.
26:56Okay?
26:57Yeah.
26:57These people are pretty tough.
26:58You've just got to be tough with them too.
27:00Oh, you're cool, you're tough, yeah.
27:02No worries, you're cool.
27:11Okay, so we are very lucky to have Vincente with us today.
27:15Truly, yes.
27:16After all, we know how busy he is.
27:18Absolutely.
27:19Right.
27:20But he has done us the courtesy of stopping off in Miami on his way back to Mexico City.
27:24Actually, it is an honor for us.
27:26Great.
27:26And coming in today, just to take us through his very incredible vision for the opening
27:31ceremony, which I think you're going to find, what can I say, it's quite something.
27:36Exactly.
27:36So, gracias, Ryan.
27:37Gracias, todos.
27:38Gracias.
27:39This morning, as the opening ceremony takes shape, the executive team are meeting its creative
27:44director, Vicente Guajardo, the renowned Mexican film director, who has been working in close
27:49approximation with 2026 lead events producer, Ryan Hertz.
27:53So, first of all, I want to say to you, this is a great honor for me to be creating
28:00this
28:00show on the world stage in Mexico City.
28:04Now, in this moment.
28:05Truly.
28:05And what I ask you now, please, take everything you know about opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies,
28:13this kind of thing.
28:13Take everything you know, everything you have seen, and throw it away.
28:18Forget it, yes?
28:20It.
28:20Is.
28:21Gone.
28:23Well, so.
28:24Exciting.
28:25Okay, good.
28:33Regarded by many as a visionary, especially by those who haven't worked with him, Guajardo
28:38broke through on the world stage when his film Entanglement picked up the Oscar for best film
28:43not in any language in 2021.
28:45His opening ceremony is to be a unique live collision between creative forces chosen from
28:51literally all over Mexico.
28:53When you make a piece of art, you are in control, yes?
28:56You are in control, and you are not in control.
28:59It is a chemical reaction.
29:03Then you bring these people together and you say to them, you are free.
29:06Now, tell me who you are.
29:09Tell me who I am.
29:10Tell me what we are doing here.
29:13Tell me what this is.
29:13And then, in the end, we know.
29:16We find out, yes?
29:20Truly, I believe it is a kind of miracle.
29:26Right, okay.
29:27So, well, I think, first of all, just to say thank you, Vincente.
29:30Oh, my God.
29:31I mean, that's really, well, it's amazing to hear about.
29:34Right.
29:34Gracias.
29:35I told you, right?
29:36Yes.
29:36This is a great story we are telling here.
29:38Yes, well, and so just, you know, in layman's terms, when it comes to telling our story,
29:44in terms of what's emerged from this amazing collaboration, I mean, what has emerged in the end?
29:51Excuse me?
29:52You know, just so we're all clear at this stage.
29:54Absolutely.
29:54Okay, so then, you are not listening, yes?
29:57Well, this is the point of what we are doing here.
29:59This is the point.
30:00When we arrive at our destination, then we know where we are.
30:03Right.
30:03We know it finally, all of us, for the first time in this moment.
30:07And this is what we share with the world.
30:09It is not before or after.
30:11No.
30:12It is unique.
30:14In this moment, we are alive.
30:18It is not like anything else.
30:22Yes.
30:23Yeah, like I said, right?
30:38Okay, fine, the guy is a fucking genius.
30:39Terrific.
30:40But apart from anything else, there is zero reference to the US.
30:43Right.
30:43Zero.
30:44In the opening ceremony?
30:46Right.
30:46Or Canada, actually.
30:48Well, no.
30:48Now that I think of it.
30:49Of course, yes.
30:50I mean, what is this?
30:51The mask of fucking Zorro?
30:52Excuse me.
30:53Oh, yes.
30:54I mean, for fuck's sake.
30:55Meanwhile, the senior executive team have repaired to the meeting room
30:59to unpack Vicente Guajardo's plans for the opening ceremony.
31:02Yeah, so I mean, Ryan.
31:03Sure.
31:03I'm sure I saw an early draft of what was going to happen in the opening ceremony at some point.
31:07Right.
31:08Okay.
31:08Uh-huh, yeah.
31:09Absolutely.
31:09Okay, so this was the opening ceremony, Vicente.
31:11Yes.
31:12I have it here.
31:12Right.
31:13Well, I mean, Sarah, for instance.
31:14Sure.
31:15I seem to remember a whole sustainability strand running through it.
31:18Absolutely.
31:18Thank you, Ian.
31:19No, of course.
31:20So, we've been working with teachers and school children from disadvantaged inner city areas
31:24across all 16 host cities to raise awareness.
31:27Great.
31:27Using the stories they generated, they came up with the beautiful story of Chichamita.
31:31Right.
31:32Chichamita.
31:33Right.
31:33So, Chichamita is a figure representing the Chichimecas people.
31:37Okay.
31:37The people who founded Mexico City in the pre-Hispanic period, back before everything.
31:41Sure.
31:41Okay, exactly.
31:42Yeah, right.
31:43So, anyway.
31:43Yeah, so he's not doing that.
31:45What?
31:45It's not happening.
31:47He's not doing it?
31:48Yeah, so that document you got there, the beat sheet, one of the first things he did
31:51was he took that document and he shredded it.
31:53Right, okay.
31:53No, no, no.
31:54Like, he literally printed out a hard copy and shredded it in front of the team.
31:57Right.
31:57Literally one of the first things that happened.
31:59Vicente, Vicente, what are you doing?
32:01Yeah, so if a key step in dealing with a problem is to recognize you've got one in the first
32:04place, I think we can say that we've achieved that.
32:06Exactly so.
32:07And perhaps we can say tick, yes?
32:09Okay, so actually we've not even started with the problem here actually.
32:12Right.
32:12So, can I just say I can't tell you how great it is to be able to talk about this
32:15stuff.
32:15Yes.
32:16For me, this is so great.
32:17Good.
32:17So, I guess I was waiting for the right moment to drop this.
32:21So, the White House has asked to see plans for the opening ceremony.
32:25Right, okay.
32:26Great.
32:26The White House?
32:27Right.
32:28Okay, no, no, no.
32:28It's pretty clear that this is coming from the President himself.
32:31Right, well, yes.
32:32Oh, and by the way, at the moment he thinks he's making the opening speech, but at the
32:34same time so does President Sheinbaum of Mexico.
32:37Right.
32:37Just thought I'd throw that one in there for the fun of it.
32:39Yes.
32:39And does Vicente know about this?
32:41Vicente?
32:41I mean, have you told him?
32:42Right, what do you think?
32:43Right, okay.
32:44For fuck's sake.
32:53Sala!
32:53Yes, hi Eric.
32:54Thank you so much for this.
32:55Sure.
32:56I mean, I'm hoping it's not going to take long, whatever it is.
32:58Of course, yes sir, exactly so.
33:00It's later in the morning.
33:01And F*** the Chief Coordinating AttachΓ©, Eric Vandiputrens, has invited VP Sustainability
33:06and Climate Strategy, Sarah Campbell, to meet a senior woman from HR for an open-ended discussion
33:12to establish whether she's okay.
33:14It seems that an anonymous member of the public has contacted the Oversight Oversight Department
33:19to complain about the professional conduct of a senior executive.
33:25So, I guess this is my fault.
33:27I should have warned you.
33:28Of course it's not your fault.
33:29I mean, how dare he?
33:31You don't know him.
33:32What's beyond any doubt for Sarah is that as well as being anonymous, that person is also
33:37her ex-husband.
33:37Taking advantage of a junior and vulnerable female colleague.
33:41Right.
33:42It's ludicrous.
33:43It's legal jargon.
33:44Well, I know it is.
33:45He's a lawyer.
33:45Yeah, I know he is.
33:46I don't care.
33:47He's coming after us.
33:48Coming after us?
33:49Right.
33:50What does that mean?
33:51One thing I do know, though, so I am not a vulnerable female.
33:55Well, no, exactly.
33:56I am not.
33:56That's it.
34:22Right.
34:23Ha.
34:24Great.
34:24Okay, no, no, no, no.
34:26You can say this is super interesting.
34:28So, this is terrible.
34:30Uh-huh.
34:30Oh, gosh.
34:31It's Tuesday, and 2026 events producer Ryan Hertz is back to update the executive team
34:37on developments with the opening ceremony.
34:39And overnight, the White House has sent over a mood board of moods they'd like to see in
34:44it.
34:44I mean, perhaps the first thing to say here, Ryan, I mean, as a palette of, you know, of
34:48things, this looks pretty heavily US focused.
34:51Uh-huh, yeah.
34:54Right.
34:54And I suppose that's one story to tell here.
34:57Excuse me?
34:57But I'm assuming that as far as Vincenti is concerned.
34:59Please, I ask you, do not send me this shit.
35:02Right, yes.
35:02It is shit.
35:03I do not look at it.
35:04Yes, but then also, just more generally, when it comes to our other friends and stakeholders
35:09in the whole 2026.
35:10We have the opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for a reason.
35:15Well, yes.
35:15Yeah, just remind us.
35:17Okay, so people have been playing soccer in Mexico for thousands of years.
35:20Thousands of years?
35:21Yeah.
35:22Yeah.
35:22Since before the US even invented itself.
35:24Excuse me?
35:25Okay, well.
35:25Okay, so the US did not just invent itself, okay?
35:28Yes, it did.
35:29That's right.
35:29I mean, they are still here in their villages and invaded us from Europe, right?
35:31What?
35:32Okay, stop it.
35:34Please, stop it.
35:36This is not about Mexico.
35:38Excuse me.
35:38It's not about the US, or even Canada.
35:41Sorry, Owen.
35:41No, sure.
35:42If you're telling the story of the Chichimecas people, you're telling the story of all of us.
35:46This is a story about the world before it all went wrong.
35:50Right.
35:50When people understood the land they lived on because it told them who they were.
35:53And we really need that story now, yes?
35:56Yes.
35:56We need to have that story told to us, like children.
36:00And this is our chance to tell it to the world.
36:05Yeah, can I just say, I'm with her.
36:08Yes, thank you, Sarah.
36:09No, sure.
36:11Then we can say in this moment, we are all Chichimecas.
36:14Yes?
36:15Yes.
36:16Well, so before we get into the solution-based phase of this, Ryan, that's it, is it?
36:20There's nothing else we need to know?
36:21Oh, yeah.
36:22Oh?
36:22Oh, yeah, there's more.
36:23Right.
36:23So, for the duration of the tournament, they want to rename the Azteca Stadium, the Stadium
36:28of the Americas.
36:30Right.
36:31Okay.
36:32Huh.
36:32Interesting.
36:33The Stadium of the Americas.
36:35Uh-huh.
36:35Mm-hmm.
36:36Right.
36:43Well, yes, like I can do that for you.
36:45No, it's okay.
36:45Yeah, but that's like what I do.
36:46Yes, I know, but sometimes it's just good to have something to do with your hands.
36:50For Ian, after the meeting, it's time for a coffee.
36:53Yeah, so then there's this other guy trying to get a hold of you, not the other guy?
36:56Yes.
36:56Yeah, I don't know.
36:57He sounds a bit...
36:57Yes, I think I know who he is.
36:58He keeps asking for your personal number?
37:00Yes.
37:00Yeah, so I didn't give it to him?
37:01No, good.
37:02Yeah, so anyway, I forwarded you the email he sent?
37:03Right, yes.
37:04Yeah.
37:06I suppose I should ask, really, did you read it?
37:08The email?
37:09Yes.
37:10Yeah, so like a lot of it I couldn't understand?
37:12No, well, probably just as well, I think.
37:14Yeah, just as well, yeah.
37:15There you go.
37:16Yeah, cool.
37:16Yeah, no worries.
37:16Yeah, thanks.
37:19You're sure I'm gonna be tough with him?
37:20Yes, thanks, Will.
37:21Yeah, no worries.
37:22Yeah, cool.
37:27Right.
37:29Right.
37:31Absolutely.
37:32Although, you should probably know the Olympics in 2028 is not something I've been thinking
37:36about up to now.
37:37Like, there's enough of 2026, right?
37:39But, I guess I was just curious to hear a bit more about the whole sustainability brief
37:44there, right?
37:45Meanwhile, with a headhunter on the loose, the opening ceremony finally coming towards
37:49them in one way or another and change in the air, people are starting to think about
37:53the future.
37:54I will say, I'm not sure I've been headhunted before, so...
37:58Oh.
37:58Well, that's kind of you.
38:00It's kind of you to say that.
38:03Right.
38:05Uh-huh.
38:09So, I wasn't gonna talk to him originally.
38:11Right.
38:12I mean, I guess he's just some guy, you know, a headhunter doing his job.
38:15Well, yes, I know.
38:16He's been trying to get hold of me, too.
38:17Right.
38:18But this is L.A., right?
38:20Sustainability actually needs something there.
38:22Like, they get it.
38:23I kind of invented it.
38:24You are serious.
38:25I don't know.
38:26And this is all to do with what's happened?
38:28So, this is not going to go away, right?
38:30What, you mean...
38:31He's not gonna give it up.
38:32He's not gonna stop.
38:33Okay, fine, but that's his stuff.
38:34I'm not gonna let him do this to us.
38:36So what?
38:37You'd leave?
38:38Well...
38:38I mean, how's that gonna help?
38:40I don't know.
38:41Help us, I mean.
38:42So, what if this was a moment for a new start?
38:45A new start?
38:46Right.
38:47For us.
38:48What if this is a solution waiting to happen?
39:05Okay, well, so obviously quite a lot to think about this morning.
39:08Uh-huh, yep.
39:08Hi, I think it's me.
39:09Yeah, right.
39:10It's Thursday, and there's a lot to think about this morning.
39:13Overnight, the complex and sensitive issues surrounding the opening ceremony have become
39:16more sharply defined.
39:18I mean, Ryan, I suppose the first thing is, in terms of the boycott threat itself...
39:21Oh, yep.
39:21Right.
39:22I mean, how seriously should we be taking this?
39:24Sure.
39:24Right.
39:25Right.
39:28Yeah, so...
39:29Following rumours of the White House's plans to rename the Azteca Stadium the Stadium of
39:33the Americas, the Mexican team is now threatening to boycott the tournament altogether, and several
39:38other countries are threatening to follow suit.
39:40I mean, I suppose, basically, is this real?
39:42Excuse me?
39:43Or could it be part of some...
39:44Is it real?
39:44Well, I just mean...
39:45We changed the name of the stadium.
39:46They are not playing, okay?
39:48Right.
39:48And there is no World Club, yes?
39:49Okay, well...
39:50It's simple.
39:50Well, good to get clarity on that straight away.
39:52Sure.
39:52This is an existential moment for the oversight team.
39:56If up to now they've been caught between seriously Hispanic and relentlessly American
40:00visions of the opening ceremony, they're suddenly facing a situation where there may
40:04be nothing to open at all, unless they can find a common brink to walk everybody
40:08backwards from.
40:09I mean, let's think about this, because in the end this is about people, isn't it?
40:13People?
40:14Yeah, I mean, it always is.
40:15So, excuse my language here, but what the fuck does that mean?
40:17Well, so in terms of the White House, I mean, what is it that the President actually
40:21wants here?
40:22What do you mean?
40:22What does he want?
40:23He wants to steal the Azteca stadium from the Mexican people.
40:26Well, that's something we need to talk about, obviously.
40:28No, it is not.
40:29But in the meantime, thinking laterally, is there anything we can offer him that might
40:33make him feel good?
40:34Huh.
40:35Anything we can offer him?
40:36I mean, just as a way of taking the heat out of this.
40:38Uh-huh.
40:38Yeah.
40:42Well, there's Greenland, I suppose.
40:45Greenland.
40:45Great.
40:46I mean, I'm thinking that would probably do it, right?
40:47Sure.
40:48I mean, Eric, is there a way of finding out if there's something that might work here?
40:51Maybe using a back channel?
40:52Ah, yes.
40:53I was thinking maybe through Zurich.
40:54Well, you know, just to bypass all the politics here.
40:56Then perhaps we can say, is there a problem in our world today that cannot be solved when
41:01great men share a golf cart?
41:02Excuse me?
41:03Yes, well...
41:04A golf cart?
41:05Huh.
41:05So for me, guys, that's not a back channel.
41:06That's more of a front channel.
41:08So then maybe there wouldn't be any problems in the world today if all these men were not
41:11playing golf, yes?
41:12Yes, well, huh.
41:13Well, I think that's a bigger question.
41:15Uh-huh.
41:15Yep.
41:15Bueno.
41:16No.
41:16Yeah, no, I mean, to be fair, that's huge.
41:19Right, yes.
41:20And just so I know, I mean, hypothetically, in terms of any meetings or interviews or whatever,
41:24I mean, that could be done by Zoom, could it?
41:26Or, you know...
41:27Right, yes.
41:28But beyond the opening ceremony, for Ian, this is a week with a number of things to think
41:33about, and a number of people to talk to about a number of different things.
41:36I mean, thanks for getting in touch in the first place.
41:39I'm sorry I was so hard to get hold of, but absolutely, yes.
41:42And obviously I'll get back to you and...
41:45Right.
41:46Yes.
41:48Yes, no, I'm sure it will.
41:49Okay.
41:50Bye.
41:50Bye.
42:04Okay, so just to say before we start, I think I'm right in saying, Gabriella, Ryan isn't
42:08with us this morning.
42:09No, he is not.
42:10I mean, I'm not quite sure what the...
42:11So, Ryan will not be with us because he is not here.
42:13Right.
42:14Yeah, no, he's gone, yeah.
42:15Why not?
42:16End of story.
42:16Okay, good.
42:17So, Eric, I gather we have intelligence back from Zurich.
42:20Well, really?
42:21So, Emily?
42:25Right, okay.
42:26So, what are we looking at here?
42:27Do you really want me to answer that or the picture of the president, yes?
42:31Yeah, on the...
42:31On the big screen.
42:32Okay.
42:33Yeah.
42:33Huh.
42:35Friday morning, and with the opening ceremony crisis deepening and more nations threatening
42:39to pull out following the White House's intervention, it looks as if, thanks to some covert back-channel activity by
42:45Zurich, they may have found an answer to the question of what you give to the biggest man in the
42:49world to make him feel good.
42:51Yeah, so, what we're saying to him is, he's going to be sitting there watching, whether Melania's got her giant
42:56hat on, we don't know.
42:57Yes, well...
42:57Right, so, he looks up, and he pretty much sees himself on the big screen, anytime, as much as he
43:04likes.
43:05Okay.
43:06Huh.
43:06So, the information we have.
43:08This could be very helpful to us in the wider picture.
43:11Meaning what?
43:12If we could give him that, then some of the other stuff might...
43:14Well, who can say?
43:16Okay.
43:16So, what I am hearing from their comms people, we're going to need a figure here, yes?
43:20Oh, right, of course.
43:20A figure.
43:21Exactly.
43:21Okay.
43:22An actual percentage of available screen time compared to anyone else.
43:25Right.
43:26So, this is going to be fun, right?
43:27Yes.
43:29Okay.
43:30Okay.
43:30No, I'm making clear the figure for the Mexican president.
43:32No, that's not going to happen.
43:34Look, you're in the White House, we're talking about the American president here.
43:36It's become clear that the possible breakthrough will depend on detailed negotiations with the White House, the Mexican authorities, and
43:44various other parties.
43:45As to the precise percentage of time that so-called dignitaries will have on screen during coverage of the opening
43:51ceremony.
43:51Okay, exacto, perfecto.
43:53Right, absolutely.
43:54You got it.
43:55Great.
43:55Bye-bye.
43:56It's been tense and it's been difficult, but eventually it looks as if they might have finally got there.
44:0463%, guys.
44:05Right.
44:05That's a great outcome, right?
44:06Well...
44:07What?
44:08It is an outcome.
44:09They asked for like 95, right?
44:10This is a terrific deal.
44:11So just to be clear, because this is freaky stuff.
44:14When it comes to time allocated to shots of these guys during the ceremony, we're saying 63% of them
44:20will be a president.
44:21Right.
44:21Exactly.
44:22Jesus.
44:23Exactly.
44:23And in the meantime, we're saying to the Mexican president that she has 29%, yes?
44:27Yeah, well...
44:27Because she is Mexican and because she is a woman.
44:29Well, that's her shit, right?
44:30Excuse me.
44:31Look, do we want this opening ceremony to happen or not?
44:33Well, yes.
44:34I think we can say, yes, we do, yes.
44:36Yes, we do, yes.
44:37And in the meantime, Gabriela, would it be an idea to give the Mexican team a sort of, you know,
44:41an unofficial heads-up that things are going to be...
44:43Okay, yes, I'm doing that.
44:44...just to get the de-escalation process underway.
44:46Yes, so I don't want to be picky about this, but just before we get into some kind of de
44:50-escalation frenzy here, we have 63% Trump...
44:53I'm trying hard not to visualize that, by the way.
44:5629% president Shane Baum, right?
44:58Exactly.
44:58Because...
44:59So that's 92%.
45:01Right.
45:01Right, and the other 8% is our guy, right?
45:03Ah, yes.
45:04It's Zurich.
45:05Okay, uh...
45:05So we know for sure our guy, as you call him, is always 15%, yes?
45:09Right, because...
45:10What?
45:10Always.
45:1115%?
45:12No, no, no.
45:12What are you even saying?
45:13Yes, completely. That's 107%.
45:15Right. 107.
45:16So actually, this is enshrined in the official statutes of the tournament?
45:19Yeah.
45:20Yeah, you see, I'm sorry, but for me, that's too much.
45:21We just negotiated this whole fucking deal.
45:24Yes, I mean, on the upside, I suppose the good news is, all we need to do now is just
45:27find another 7% from somewhere.
45:28What?
45:28Yeah, no, 100%.
45:29Yeah, so...
45:30Yeah, well...
45:31Okay, no, no, no.
45:32So we're not getting down below 63%, that is not gonna happen.
45:35Well, Mexico is not going below 29%, yes? This is the whole history of our country.
45:40Right, um...
45:40Yeah, because I guess where I was going with this is, what about Canada?
45:44Excuse me?
45:44Oh, right, yes.
45:45Canada?
45:46Yeah.
45:46What do you mean, what about Canada?
45:47Well, I guess, you know, just...
45:49What about Canada, really?
45:50Yes, no, good point.
45:56Whilst the numbers are being re-crunched, this is a good moment for Ian to catch up with his assistant.
46:01Oh, these look nice.
46:02Yeah, no, so they're Eric's?
46:03Right.
46:04Yes.
46:04John?
46:05Maybe they're Eric's.
46:06Yes, I don't care.
46:08And it's a week where there's a lot to catch up on.
46:11Oh, yes, so Ryan Hurts would like to meet you.
46:12Oh, right.
46:13Yeah, for like a coffee or something, to talk about what happened.
46:15Yes.
46:15Yeah, so he's suggesting two weeks' time.
46:17Two weeks' time?
46:18Yeah, Thursday, yeah.
46:19He thinks he'll be out again by then.
46:20Right.
46:22I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be here then.
46:25Okay, cool, so...
46:26In fact, I should probably say, well, you should probably know.
46:29In fact, you'll hear this soon enough anyway.
46:31I'm not going to be here then.
46:33What, so...?
46:34I'm not going to be here.
46:37I'm sorry.
46:43I mean, I've been talking to them for the past week or so, Zoom interviews with people in LA and
46:48so on.
46:49So, one of the things about this particular role, for various reasons, it starts quite soon.
46:53Well, really soon, actually.
46:55So, if I was going to make a decision...
46:57And then here, we're not far off the opening ceremony now.
47:00So, we're almost there.
47:02So, in the end, I suppose it seemed as good a time as any, really.
47:06So, is it a professional thing, or...?
47:08Right.
47:09Or is it something more, you know...?
47:12So, this isn't what I thought was going to happen when I came out here.
47:14Any of it, I mean.
47:16I didn't think I was going to feel this way about someone.
47:18Not at this point in my life, anyway.
47:21Or any point in my life, really.
47:23But here I am.
47:24If that answers your question.
47:27Yes, well...
47:28I mean, yes.
47:47Ian Fletcher's shock decision to leave Miami and accept a senior role in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is
47:54a reminder for everyone that nothing lasts forever.
47:57But sometimes, the big things in life can happen fast.
48:00And for Ian himself, this is a moment that could be not so much an ending as a new beginning.
48:05So, we are ready?
48:06We are all here, yes?
48:07Well, yes.
48:08Yeah, cool, yeah.
48:09I suppose now is as good a time as...
48:10Although, hang on.
48:11Where's Sarah?
48:12Sarah?
48:12She was here a moment ago, but I can't see her.
48:14Ah, yes, Sarah.
48:15Yes.
48:16Where is Sarah?
48:17Yeah, I dunno, yeah.
48:24He called me in the car this morning, and he's going after custody now if I go.
48:29Right.
48:30Where Sarah is, it turns out, is up on the terrace.
48:33Lily says, Mom, go.
48:35Do it.
48:36You deserve it.
48:37I'll be okay.
48:38She's 16, and she's a young woman.
48:42But, I look at her, and there's a nine-year-old girl in there somewhere.
48:46I can see it in her eyes, and...
48:50I'm scared.
48:52Yes.
48:53I never used to be scared.
48:58I'm sorry.
49:01I'm so, so sorry.
49:10Okay.
49:11Okay, thank you.
49:12Having established where Sarah was and why, Ian's task now is to go back downstairs and
49:17deliver a leaving speech, in the knowledge that if endings can sometimes be new beginnings,
49:22they can equally often just be endings.
49:24What can we say about Ian Fletcher?
49:27Well, we can say it was an honor and a privilege to serve under him.
49:31But most of all, we can say thank you.
49:33Thank you, Ian, for steering us through dangerous waters, to within reach of safety and dry lands,
49:39before leaving us, to take up your duty on another great ship out on the high seas.
49:44I wish I'll continue from now on.
49:46We can never know.
49:47But in the meantime, thank you, Emily.
49:50We would like you to have this as a token of our gratitude,
49:53and as a reminder of your time here, with us, in Miami.
50:04Well, thank you.
50:09Well, first of all, thank you, Eric, for that, and then thank you for this.
50:15Yes.
50:19So, for me, this has been a quite extraordinary time here in Miami.
50:23When I arrived, I didn't know quite what to expect.
50:27Perhaps that was just as well.
50:29So, in some ways, I feel like I've only just arrived, and yet here I am, saying goodbye to it
50:32already.
50:33Yes.
50:34So, now, I want to say thanks to you, because I think I can say I've learned a lot.
50:39I hope I have, anyway, about soccer, obviously, Phil.
50:43About the optics of Mexico, Gabriella.
50:45About Canadian logic, Owen.
50:47About all things Zurich, up to a point, Eric.
50:51Literally everything I could ever want to know about the US legal system, Nick.
50:55And then, perhaps, about what matters in our world beyond all that, Sarah.
50:59What's really most precious in our life, and how we can try to save it.
51:04And, just so you know, this is not stuff I'm going to forget.
51:06I think I can say already that my time here in Miami is going to stay with me wherever I
51:10end up in the future.
51:12So, thank you for that.
51:13All of you.
51:15And, for the alligator head, obviously.
51:31Yes.
51:32And landscape.
51:34At the end of the day, it's coming to the end of Ian Fletcher's time in Miami.
51:39No, it's pretty cool, because the thing is, like, I've never actually been to LA.
51:41Right.
51:41Yes.
51:42Yeah, like, I was going to go once.
51:43Like, my parents, right, you can go and stay with your sister.
51:45Yes.
51:46Yeah, but then my sister was like, no, we've got ants, you can't come.
51:48Right.
51:49Ants?
51:49Yeah, I know, yeah.
51:50Well, we should probably talk about this.
51:52Yeah, I know, because apparently they can eat your shoes and stuff.
51:54Well, but...
51:54Yeah, I know, you're mental.
51:55You know, because what they do is...
51:58Oh, okay.
52:00Yeah.
52:01Will, would you mind taking this?
52:02Yeah, no worries, you're cool.
52:03Great, thanks.
52:04Yes, you take it.
52:05It doesn't matter, just take it.
52:06Yeah, no, cool, yeah, cool.
52:07Thanks so much for watching.
52:10Bye, thanks a lot.
52:15Bye, bye.
52:18Bye, bye.
52:22Bye, bye.
52:25Bye, bye.
52:55Okay, thanks for that.
52:56Yeah, no worries, you're cool.
Comments