We analysed the World Cup 2026 conversation between 28 May and 11 June to find where attention was forming, and what that means for anyone trying to shape it.

Three things stood out.

Reach and resonance are not the same signal. Portugal ranked second on mention volume, then fell well down the table once engagement was counted, while Argentina rose to second. Being talked about and being reacted to are different problems, and they need different plans.

The ratio was roughly 46 to 1. Every unit of visibility carried about forty-six units of reaction behind it. At that scale the tournament stops being a sports audience and becomes a mass-reach platform.

Instagram carried 50.2% of engagement. Visual-first is not a preference here, it is where the conversation actually lives.

The full analysis is now live, with the language split, platform dynamics, the audience breakdown, and what we would do with all of it.

📖 To read and download the full report

Conversations create momentum. Data, insights, and impact: that is how wins are built.

The post FIFA World Cup 2026 Social Listening Report appeared first on Makana360.

📌 Mojtaba Khamenei absent from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral as senior officials attend
Mojtaba Khamenei was absent from the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while senior Iranian officials and thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran. His absence fueled speculation about his condition following rumors that he had been injured in US-Israel air strikes. President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi attended the ceremony, which forms part of wider funeral proceedings across Iran and Iraq. The events come amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel, strict security measures, anti-US and anti-Israel chants, and preparations for Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad later in the week.

📌 Moscow says Putin and Trump held a “businesslike” 90-minute July 4 call
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a nearly 90-minute July 4 call described by Moscow as businesslike and constructive. Russia said Trump again offered to help end the Ukraine war, while Putin argued for a political settlement and claimed Russian forces were advancing. The call came before a NATO summit in Turkey and amid intensified fighting in Donetsk, where Russia claimed control of Kostyantynivka, a claim Ukraine rejected as disinformation. Zelensky also spoke with Trump, citing a real chance to end the war, while Ukraine continued expanding strikes on Russian oil, fuel, and power infrastructure.

📌 Trump gives a campaign-style July 4 speech on the National Mall for the US 250th anniversary
Donald Trump marked the United States’ 250th anniversary with a July 4 speech on the National Mall that blended patriotic messaging with campaign-style politics. After a nearly two-hour weather delay, he praised American achievements, called for tighter voting rules, warned against communism, and highlighted his administration’s record. The event unfolded amid record heat, thunderstorms, evacuations, heavy security, and criticism over partisanship. A white nationalist group also appeared in Washington, though police reported no violence, while several Democratic-led states and performers distanced themselves from the Freedom 250 events.

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The post 5 July – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

📌 Trump is losing his fight with the Fed
President Donald Trump suffered a major legal setback after the Supreme Court ruled that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook was denied due process in his attempt to remove her over unproven mortgage fraud allegations. The decision preserves, for now, the Fed’s political independence and blocks Trump from immediately gaining another appointee aligned with his push for lower interest rates. At the same time, the ruling did not settle whether Cook could still be removed “for cause,” while inflation pressures from the Iran war and disrupted oil flows have made rate cuts less likely, with some Fed officials signaling possible hikes if inflation stays elevated.

📌 Angry Venezuelans accuse the government of negligence over the earthquake response
In La Guaira, Venezuela, rescuers continued searching for survivors beneath collapsed buildings after twin earthquakes killed at least 1,700 people. Search teams paused at times to listen for signs of life, while families nearby waited desperately for any news of missing relatives. Residents accused authorities of responding too slowly, saying local people began digging with their bare hands before official rescue teams arrived. In other affected areas, survivors also reported searching through rubble with basic tools, amid fears that many bodies may never be recovered, leaving the full scale of the disaster still unclear.

📌 Paraguay stun Germany on penalties to reach the last 16
Germany exited the 2026 World Cup after losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Julio Enciso gave Paraguay a surprise lead before Kai Havertz equalized from Florian Wirtz’s cross. Germany thought they had won the match in extra time, but Jonathan Tah’s header was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. In the shootout, Havertz and Nick Woltemade were denied by Orlando Gill, before Jose Canale converted the decisive penalty to send Paraguay into the last 16 and hand Germany its first-ever World Cup defeat in a penalty shootout.

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The post 30 June – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

📌 Supreme Court expands Trump’s power to fire independent agency officials, but lets Lisa Cook remain at the Fed
The US Supreme Court issued several major rulings. It blocked President Donald Trump’s immediate effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, reinforcing the Fed’s independence, but broadly expanded presidential authority to dismiss leaders of independent agencies by overturning Humphrey’s Executor. The court also upheld state laws allowing mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received later, rejecting a major Republican challenge. In addition, the justices declined to hear Trump’s appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case, leaving a $5 million judgment in place, and also rejected Alan Dershowitz’s defamation appeal against CNN.

📌 Shattered tiles, trembling domes: an inside look at how the war damaged Iran’s historic sites
A Reuters investigation found that Israeli and US strikes during the March war with Iran damaged some of the country’s most important historic sites, particularly in Isfahan and Tehran. Reporters documented damage to 11 historic buildings, including shattered glass, cracked walls, broken tiles, and possible structural harm caused by blast waves. UNESCO has so far confirmed damage at seven sites but has not yet deployed teams on the ground. Experts cited by Reuters say this marks a shift away from earlier US-led efforts to avoid heritage sites in wartime. The report also highlights the broader impact on tourism, local livelihoods, and public anger over damage to places widely seen as part of Iran’s national identity.

📌 South Korea to invest $576 billion in AI chip production with Samsung and SK Hynix
South Korea announced a large AI and semiconductor expansion plan led by President Lee Jae Myung, together with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The strategy is worth more than $576 billion over several years and is designed to strengthen the country’s position in AI chips and data infrastructure. It includes four new fabrication sites in the southwest, additional investment in chip packaging near Seoul, and support from local governments. The plan is also intended to spread growth beyond the Seoul area, though experts warn that power, water, logistics, supplier networks, and skilled labor may limit how quickly the new hubs can scale.

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The post 29 June – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

📌 Venezuela earthquakes kill at least 32 and injure around 700 as buildings collapse across Caracas
Back-to-back earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck west of Caracas, killing at least 32 people and injuring around 700, according to acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Rescue teams are continuing to search collapsed buildings in the capital, where people were heard calling for help from beneath the rubble. The quakes also caused power outages and the full closure of the metro system, and were felt as far away as Bogotá, Colombia. The United States said it was immediately sending search-and-rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian aid.

📌 Senate walks back rebuke of Trump over the Iran war
The US Senate reversed course after previously backing a measure intended to limit President Donald Trump’s military authority over the Iran war. A similar war powers resolution failed after Republicans Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed their positions following pressure from Trump and briefings from JD Vance and Steve Witkoff. Trump welcomed the outcome, saying it strengthened his negotiating position with Iran, while some Democrats argued that Congress should still play a role in preventing renewed military action despite the preliminary agreement with Tehran. The final vote stood at 47-50-1.

📌 European leaders pledge unity after recent tensions ahead of the NATO summit
European leaders met in Berlin and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Europe’s role inside NATO ahead of the July summit in Ankara. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe must reinforce the alliance’s European pillar and avoid unilateral defence policies. The meeting followed tensions with Donald Trump over NATO, Iran, and US troop levels in Europe, as well as disagreements among European partners over defence projects and talks on Ukraine. Leaders also paid tribute to outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for helping rebuild ties with Europe after Brexit.

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The post 25 June – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

📌 Trump cancels signing of a landmark bipartisan bill aimed at lowering housing costs
Donald Trump cancelled the planned signing of a major bipartisan housing bill just hours before the ceremony, saying he would not approve it until Congress passes strict voter ID legislation. The bill is designed to reduce housing costs and expand supply through more than 40 measures, including easing homebuilding rules and limiting institutional purchases of single-family homes. The move surprised lawmakers from both parties, although some Republicans still expect Trump to sign it later. Unless it is vetoed or delayed in Congress, the bill could become law within ten days.

📌 Extreme heat is melting records across Europe, with more expected Thursday
Europe is facing an intense heatwave that is breaking national records and placing heavy pressure on public services and infrastructure. France recorded its hottest day since records began, while the UK and Spain set new June temperature records. The UK issued rare red extreme heat warnings, with temperatures forecast to reach 39°C. In France, at least 40 people drowned while trying to escape the heat, while the conditions also strained electricity grids and caused power outages in northwestern France and parts of Italy, including Florence and Pescara.

📌 Israel says the IDF is staying in southern Lebanon, undermining Iran peace talks
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said Israeli troops will remain in southern Lebanon, complicating US-Iran peace talks that link a permanent deal to ending the Lebanon conflict. Iran insists Israel must stop operations and withdraw, while Israel says there is no US demand for withdrawal and prefers a phased handover to the Lebanese army. Despite a US-mediated Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Israeli strikes continued near Nabatieh, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio toured Gulf states to reassure allies concerned that sanctions relief and possible funds for Iran could strengthen Tehran.

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The post 24 June – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

The post 23 June – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

📌 All eyes on Downing Street – what will the Prime Minister say, and when?
Labour figures expect Keir Starmer to announce a plan to leave office amid mounting pressure from his party and cabinet ministers. The crisis follows months of declining authority, reinforced by Andy Burnham’s strong by-election victory, which convinced many Labour MPs that he may be better placed to confront Reform UK. Starmer’s options are narrowing between removing dissenting ministers and trying to survive, or setting out a timetable for an orderly exit, while Labour weighs how to choose his successor.

📌 US and Iran take steps to reduce tensions in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, mediators say
The United States and Iran made encouraging progress in Switzerland-based talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, despite earlier tensions caused by Donald Trump’s threats to resume bombing Iran and take control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign minister said oil sanctions were waived, some frozen assets were released, and a reconstruction and development plan was launched. Mediators also said both sides agreed to establish a high-level committee, a communication line for the Strait of Hormuz, and a de-confliction cell aimed at reducing tensions and helping end military operations in Lebanon.

📌 Colombian right-wing candidate De La Espriella wins a tight presidential race
Right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella narrowly won Colombia’s presidential runoff, according to the initial count, with 49.66% against leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda’s 48.70%. Cepeda said he would wait for final verification and challenge results from some ballot boxes. Backed by Donald Trump, De La Espriella campaigned on cracking down on crime, ending talks with armed groups, lowering taxes, expanding oil and gas, and shrinking the state. His narrow mandate, high public debt, and a divided Congress may constrain his reform agenda.

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The post 22 June – Daily Monitoring appeared first on Makana360.

Makana 360 examined the political dynamics shaping the FIFA World Cup 2026, looking at how host-state power, immigration policy, institutional neutrality, and global public sentiment are influencing the tournament’s wider narrative.

The analysis shows that while football enthusiasm remains the dominant conversation, political themes are now embedded in the tournament’s structure, from fan access and visa restrictions to questions around FIFA’s consistency and neutrality. The report also highlights how public conversation varies across regions and languages, with political criticism gaining traction around issues of exclusion, double standards, and host-state conduct.

For institutions, brands, and media teams, FIFA 2026 is not only a sporting event. It is a live global conversation where governance, reputation, and public perception are being shaped in real time.

[Read the full article here.]

The post FIFA 2026_ Politics, Power, and the Neutrality Challenge appeared first on Makana360.

Between May 28 and June 11, 2026, World Cup conversations generated 34.1 million mentions and 1.57 billion engagements, showing that the tournament is already operating as a major global attention platform.

For Jordan, the World Cup represents more than a historic first appearance. It is a national communication opportunity to build pride, activate regional and diaspora audiences, and position Jordan’s story on the global stage.

📖 To read and download the full report

The post World Cup 2026 Conversation Intelligence: How Digital Momentum Is Forming Before the Tournament appeared first on Makana360.