The awarding of the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 to Russia and Qatar has once again shown that a football field is never just a green rectangle where 22 players chase after a ball. (Professional) football is always a substitute playing field for politics: rulers of different backgrounds stage themselves, norms such as competitive thinking are practiced, and national teams serve as indicators of which groups are considered part of the nation and which are not. Using examples from Germany, France, and Russia, Timm Beichelt examines the relationship between football and power. In his essay, he also explores the question of whether the game can still be a platform for equality, tolerance, and authentic living today.