What in the World

The 2026 Fifa Men's World Cup has the highest proportion ever of players representing countries they were not born in - almost a quarter of all the participating players. Several squads, including those from DR Congo, Morocco and Bosnia & Herzegovina, have a team made up mostly of foreign-born players. Of the 26 players who represented Curaçao, only one was born on the Caribbean island.
Fernando Duarte, a reporter with the BBC World Service, explains why more World Cup footballers aren’t playing for their birth nations. He also highlights how Morocco, the only African team ever to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, has successfully recruited players from its diaspora.
We also hear from football fans around the world about the foreign-born players representing Cape Verde, Curaçao, Morocco and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams
Editor: Verity Wilde

When you think of fertility, you might automatically think of women’s fertility. But there are men online doing something called ‘fertilitymaxxing’ - it’s all about young men trying a bunch of unproven hacks in hopes of improving their sperm health.
Content with these hacks are often pushed by male wellness and manosphere influencers online - but is this really about raising more awareness of male fertility (which is an under-researched issue)? Or is it about other anxieties Gen Z men might have about their health - and masculinity more generally?
Jacqui Wakefield is our Global Health Correspondent and has been speaking to men, like Simon in Miami, who have been doing things like icing his testicles in a bid to boost sperm count. And also Professor Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinologist and Imperial College, explains that some medicines these influencers are recommending can be very dangerous.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler and Chelsea Coates
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde

After a devastating double earthquake in Venezuela, tens of thousands of people are still believed to be missing, with many trapped under rubble. Nearly 1,500 people have been confirmed dead and the death toll is expected to rise. Aid agencies say the first 72 hours after a disaster are the most critical to finding people alive. But there is a lack of heavy machinery and specialised equipment needed to rescue people. Much of the emergency response is being carried out by volunteers and international aid workers from Turkey, the UK and France. BBC’s Global Affairs reporter Mimi Swaby gives us the latest update on the situation.
Against all odds, several videos online show miraculous stories of survival, like young infants and children being lifted from the rubble. Bill Murphy, a professor of engineering geology at the University of Leeds in the UK, tells us what increases the chances of survival in awful conditions like these.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Emma-Louise Amanshia
Producer: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden
Editor: Verity Wilde

Buzz around the GTA 6 pre-order is building fast. After two trailers and a 13-year wait, fans can finally play the latest instalment of the game on 19 November when it’s released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Priced at $79.99 and $100 for its standard and premium versions in the US, it’s expected to generate billions for its developer Rockstar Games.
BBC technology reporter Laura Cress explains the scale and significance of the upcoming release. We also hear from GTA fans from Italy, South Africa and Canada about why they love the game.
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams and Stefania Okereke
Editor: Verity Wilde

For some women, the two-week luteal phase of their menstrual cycle can be extremely disruptive and life altering. PMDD or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is mental health disorder directly linked to regular hormonal fluctuations that take place during a cycle. People living with PMDD can experience anger, anxiety, severe depression, and even suicidal thoughts which then stops shortly after menstruation begins. Two women, Shariya in the US and Janna in Germany tell us how PMDD has impacted them.
There’s very little scientific research about why PMDD happens and the signs or symptoms can be missed by doctors. We hear from BBC Health Reporter Ruth Clegg, who’s been reporting on how social media has shifted perceptions of the disorder, and led to changes around how doctors screen for symptoms.
If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode, or suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Benita Barden, Ash Mohamed and Adam Chowdhury
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde