The word "Due" read from top-down and "South" left-right, with the U shared between them. Reminiscent of a com.

This international friendly in Chapel Hill is more than a soccer match

Published June 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM EDT

Chelsea vs. Wrexham at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan Stadium — Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster boots the ball away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan Stadium.

“Football unites the world” the international soccer organization FIFA says. But the way the United States is treating its allies and enemies might put international fans in a bind if they want to attend 2026 World Cup matches here.

WUNC reporter Aaron Sánchez-Guerra got a preview at this week’s Mexico vs. Turkey match in Chapel Hill.

Guest
Aaron Sánchez-Guerra covers race, class, and communities for WUNC

The New York Times article referenced in this conversation can be read here "Soccer Fans Fear Being Target of Immigration Raids."

Due South

Leoneda Inge

Leoneda Inge is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Leoneda has been a radio journalist for more than 30 years, spending most of her career at WUNC as the Race and Southern Culture reporter. Leoneda’s work includes stories of race, slavery, memory and monuments. She has won "Gracie" awards, an Alfred I. duPont Award and several awards from the Radio, Television, Digital News Association (RTDNA). In 2017, Leoneda was named "Journalist of Distinction" by the National Association of Black Journalists.

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Aaron Sánchez-Guerra

Aaron Sánchez-Guerra covers issues of race, class, and communities for WUNC.

See stories by Aaron Sánchez-Guerra

Cole del Charco

Cole del Charco is an audio producer and writer based in Durham. He's made stories for public radio's All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Marketplace. Before ing Due South, he spent time as a freelance journalist, an education and daily news reporter for WUNC, and a podcast producer for WFAE in Charlotte.

See stories by Cole del Charco