Extortionate tickets and matches moved at Trump’s whim: are you ready for the ‘greatest World Cup ever’? | Marina Hyde
In a recent opinion piece, Marina Hyde critiques the troubling intersection of politics and sports, particularly focusing on FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s controversial presence in the Oval Office during a meeting with President Trump. This encounter raises eyebrows as Trump suggested that cities hosting the 2026 World Cup could be replaced if he perceives security issues or non-compliance, an assertion that hints at a politically charged agenda. Hyde points out the irony of Infantino, who previously claimed that politics should remain separate from football, now aligning himself with a president whose decisions could be influenced by partisan affiliations—specifically, cities run by Democrats. This contradiction highlights a broader pattern of FIFA’s willingness to overlook human rights abuses in autocratic regimes while potentially penalizing democratic cities for political reasons.
Hyde reflects on the legacy of FIFA leadership, recalling the notorious reign of Sepp Blatter, who was ousted amid corruption scandals in 2015. Infantino’s current tenure, marked by questionable decisions and alliances, appears to have surpassed Blatter’s in terms of ethical concerns. The piece serves as a stark reminder of how the world of football, under FIFA’s governance, often prioritizes political expediency over integrity and fairness. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the implications of such political maneuvering raise critical questions about the future of the sport and its governance, challenging fans and stakeholders to consider the ethical dimensions of hosting events in the current geopolitical climate. With the world watching, the intersection of sport and politics continues to unfold in ways that could redefine the very essence of football on the global stage.
You may have thought Qatar and Russia were tournament lows. You didn’t account for the US president and his Fifa soulmate, Gianni Infantino
“It’s very clear,” claimed haunted Fifa cue-ball Gianni Infantino
not so long ago
, “that politics should stay out of football and football should stay out of politics.” But is it clear? Is it really? On Monday, the worst man in world sport was – yet again – to be
found in the Oval Office
, this time nodding along to Trump’s declaration that games could be moved from host cities for next summer’s World Cup if the US president deems there’s “a problem” with security or that the cities are non-compliant in some other way. In practice, that seems to mean if they’re run by a Democrat/“communist”. Amazing that the Fifa president will gladly allow his tournaments to be held in any old violent autocracy but, for the purposes of the White House cameras at least, might need to draw the line at Boston.
Honestly, the very sight of Infantino these days causes decades of writing about Fifa to flash before my eyes. How could it have happened? How could we have ended up with an even bigger horror in charge of world football’s governing body than the various ones who went before? When
Sepp Blatter was thrown
from a moving gravy train in 2015 amid an explosive corruption scandal, it would have felt like a genuine feat of sporting excellence to have beaten his record for craven awfulness.
Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist
A year in Westminster: John Crace, Marina Hyde and Pippa Crerar
On Tuesday 2 December, join Crace, Hyde and Crerar as they look back at another extraordinary year, with special guests, live at the Barbican in London and livestreamed globally. Book tickets
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