Global News Podcast: The Happy Pod – The Decades-Long Wait for the World Cup

BBC World Service | Host: Holly Gibbs | Date: April 4, 2026

Overview

This uplifting episode of the Happy Pod spotlights moments of joy and resilience from around the globe. The centerpiece is football elation as Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) qualify for the World Cup after decades of absence, bringing immense pride to their nations. Also featured are stories of newfound hope in a South Korean village with its first baby in 17 years, a community's revival of a beloved D.C. bookshop, a small-town English abbey’s rise as a wedding hotspot for Chinese couples, a schoolgirl’s innovative invention for dyslexia, and the quirky phenomena of Japan's office chair racing.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Historic World Cup Qualifications for Iraq & DRC

• Fans’ Emotional Reflections:

  • Both Iraq and DRC break decades-long droughts to qualify, sparking widespread joy and unity.
  • The show pairs fans from both countries—Hassanein Bilal (Iraq) and Tresor Kubadica (DRC)—whose mutual elation and camaraderie are palpable.

• Tough Journeys and Supportive Diasporas:

  • Iraqi squad faced war-related travel disruptions, journeying from Baghdad to Mexico via land before clinching their spot.
  • Massive Iraq/DRC diasporas turn up in North America to support their teams.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • “So many years, 52 years. I never even got the chance to experience this.” – Hassanein Bilal (01:22)
  • “I'm 33—in my life I've never been able to support a team in the World Cup, man.” – Tresor Kubadica (01:27, 05:44)
  • “Against all odds, recent events in the Middle East have been really, really tough… but it doesn't matter. We're going to the World Cup.” – Tresor Kubadica (04:22)

• On Facing Strong Competition:

  • DRC assigned to a ‘group of death’ with France, Norway, and Senegal.
  • “Realistically, we're not going into this World Cup to win it. I just want to be there and have the players experience this…” – Tresor Kubadica (07:03)

• Friendship Sparked by Football:

  • Despite supporting rival teams, Hassanein and Tresor reflect honest rivalry yet shared excitement, with hopes to meet back in London.

  Timestamps:

  • Elation from fans and discussion of journeys: [01:22]–[08:14]

2. New Life in a South Korean Village

• First Baby in 17 Years:

  • Rural village in South Korea celebrates a rare birth, reversing existential fears of extinction.
  • The community, made up mostly of older adults, comes together in hope.

• Demographic Context:

  • South Korea’s birth rate had been the lowest globally but shows slight recent improvement.
  • Government policies may be starting to work, though sustainability remains uncertain.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “This is a village that is at the edge of extinction… for the first time in 17 years they had a baby.” – Reporter Jake Won (08:44)
  • “They gathered in the town center to kind of celebrate the arrival of the baby.” – Jake Won (08:44)

  Timestamps:

  • Village’s story through demography context: [08:14]–[12:28]

3. A Bookshop Rises from the Ashes in D.C.

• Devastation to Community Triumph:

  • The area’s first romance-only bookshop, gutted by fire days after opening, is quickly reborn thanks to local support.

• The Power of Community:

  • Fundraisers and neighboring businesses help restore the shop, showing how small businesses persist through unity.
  • The romance reading community is cited as particularly passionate and supportive, both online and off.

  Memorable Quotes:

  • “Day after the fire, I go across the street… when can I move in? And she was like, tomorrow, like whenever. So it’s honestly been awesome. We have a great community.” – Bookshop Owner Riley Farrell (14:37)
  • “Joyful stories are important too, not just the ones where everybody's depressed.” – Riley Farrell (16:14)

  Timestamps:

  • Bookshop’s journey and community discussion: [12:28]–[16:22]

4. Selby Abbey: A Wedding Destination for Chinese Fans

• Pop Star Influence:

  • Jay Chou’s wedding in Selby Abbey spurred pilgrimage and bookings from Chinese fans, making the English abbey a wedding hotspot.

• Community Response:

  • Vicar restricts bookings due to demand, underlining the Abbey’s transformation into an international symbol of pop culture tourism.

• Quotes from Visitors:

  • “We came here because we are the fans of the Jay Chou and we looked video that their wedding is so splendid. Yeah. And we want to have a look there.” – Isabelle from Beijing (21:06)

  Timestamps:

  • The Abbey’s new fame and visitor stories: [18:05]–[22:05]

5. Invention for Dyslexia by a Schoolgirl

• Rainbow Glasses Innovation:

  • 11-year-old Millie invents glasses with adjustable colored lenses to help people with dyslexia, winning a national engineering competition.

• Potential for Global Impact:

  • Her invention, born from her personal struggle, is highlighted for its empathy and technical creativity.

  Memorable Quotes:

  • “It’s really good because, like, I drew it and I didn’t think that will actually come to life… I think it’ll help a lot of adults, children, just like a lot of people.” – Millie (23:25)
  • “It's something a lot of people have not kind of thought of before and it's a real, like, it's a real world problem.” – Engineer Ben Butcher (24:57)
  • “I think it's going to change people's life, if I'm honest, a lot for the better.” – Millie’s mum, Sarah (25:36)

  Timestamps:

  • Interview and invention coverage: [22:05]–[25:41]

6. Japan’s Office Chair Racing: A Whimsical Sport

• Popular, Unconventional Racing

  • Japan hosts formal ‘office chair Grand Prix’ races, drawing hundreds—teams cover over 20km on regular office chairs, all vying for the grand prize: 90kg of rice.

• Rules and Aspirations:

  • Chairs must be unmodified, and racers don full safety gear.
  • Hopes that the sport will spread globally.

• Participant Reflections:

  • “Being able to come here and win… really showed me how important it is to keep going without giving up. It's become a source of confidence…” – Naogi Nishikawa (26:40)
  • “Personally, I really hope that this race, born here in Japan, will spread across the world and tournaments will be held in various places.” – Yasunori Miura (27:06)

  Timestamps:

  • Insights into the sport and participant voices: [25:41]–[28:07]

Notable Quotes Recap (with Timestamps)

• “So many years, 52 years. I never even got the chance to experience this.”
  – Hassanein Bilal (Iraqi Fan) [01:22]
• “I'm 33—in my life I've never been able to support a team in the World Cup, man.”
  – Tresor Kubadica (Congolese Fan) [05:44]
• “Against all odds, recent events… have been really, really tough… but it doesn't matter. We're going to the World Cup.”
  – Tresor Kubadica (Congolese Fan) [04:22]
• “Joyful stories are important too, not just the ones where everybody's depressed.”
  – Riley Farrell (Bookshop Owner) [16:14]
• “It's something a lot of people have not kind of thought of before and it's a real, like, it's a real world problem.”
  – Ben Butcher (Engineer) [24:57]
• “Being able to come here and win… really showed me how important it is to keep going without giving up. It's become a source of confidence…”
  – Naogi Nishikawa (Office Chair Racer) [26:40]

Episode Structure/Listening Guide

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------|--------------------| | Footbal Fan Elation (Iraq/DRC) | 01:22 – 08:14 | | South Korea’s Rural Baby Boom | 08:14 – 12:28 | | D.C. Bookshop Revival | 12:28 – 16:22 | | Selby Abbey’s Chinese Wedding Boom | 18:05 – 22:05 | | Millie’s Rainbow Glasses | 22:05 – 25:41 | | Japan’s Office Chair Racing | 25:41 – 28:07 |

Tone & Takeaway

The episode is celebratory and warm, spotlighting resilience, the enduring power of communities, and the joy that can shine through adversity. Voices from around the world come together to share stories of persistence, hope, and the unique ways people continue to support one another and chase their dreams.

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking stories of hope, humor, and humanity.