<p>A sleepy town of 22,000 people in southern Slovakia is home to a top-flight football club that is challenging for national titles and boasts an ultra-modern, sleek stadium that is entirely out of step with its surroundings – thanks to money from abroad.</p><p>We paid a visit to Dunajská Streda to watch local team DAC 1904 play domestic giants Slovan Bratislava in a top-of-the table clash in Slovakia. But this was no ordinary game. It was the most politically charged football match we’ve ever seen.</p><p>The reason for that lies far beyond the football pitch. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is funding clubs in neighbouring countries as part of a broader political strategy – one that may help him win re-election in April and shape the balance of power in the EU.</p><p>Elsewhere, the Copa Libertadores is reportedly preparing to invite guest clubs from Mexico and the US to participate in the competition starting in 2027, while Chinese football has hit a new low after nine of the Super League’s 16 clubs were deducted points.</p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 - Intro</p><p>01:49 - Live game: DAC 1904 v Slovan Bratislava</p><p>14:32 - Viktor Orbán&#39;s political power play</p><p>21:18 - Copa Libertadores guest invitations</p><p>23:04 - Analysis from Jon Arnold</p><p>25:59 - China&#39;s Super League low point</p><p>27:21 - Analysis from John Duerden</p><p><strong>Sources for the lead story</strong></p><p><strong>Atlatszo: </strong><a href="https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/12/11/the-orban-government-spent-billions-on-hungarian-football-clubs-in-serbia-romania-and-slovakia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/12/11/the-orban-government-spent-billions-on-hungarian-football-clubs-in-serbia-romania-and-slovakia</a></p><p><strong>Balkan Insight:</strong> <a href="https://balkaninsight.com/2025/07/08/hungary-and-croatia-build-stadium-for-e7-5-million-in-village-of-500-inhabitants" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://balkaninsight.com/2025/07/08/hungary-and-croatia-build-stadium-for-e7-5-million-in-village-of-500-inhabitants</a></p><p><strong>Denník:</strong> <a href="https://dennikn.sk/1380564/bolo-to-ako-vojna-bitka-policajtov-s-fanusikmi-dunajskej-stredy-po-ktorej-sa-zmenil-zakon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://dennikn.sk/1380564/bolo-to-ako-vojna-bitka-policajtov-s-fanusikmi-dunajskej-stredy-po-ktorej-sa-zmenil-zakon/</a></p><p><strong>Radio Free Europe:</strong> <a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-orban-sport-influence-romania/31977287.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-orban-sport-influence-romania/31977287.html</a></p><p><strong>Salzburger Nachrichten:</strong><a href="https://www.sn.at/sport/fussball/international/dac-dunajska-streda-orbans-aushaengeschild-in-der-slowakei-art-371392" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.sn.at/sport/fussball/international/dac-dunajska-streda-orbans-aushaengeschild-in-der-slowakei-art-371392</a></p><p></p>