Donald Trump just won the World Cup — and FIFA's limp surrender was utterly pathetic. Football was meant to belong to us, but watching FIFA purr for power makes it feel like someone quietly sold the game while we were still cheering.
A Surrender to Power
History never forgets leaders who cravenly capitulate to demagogues or dictators. Now lily-livered FIFA President Gianni Infantino has penned his own unedifying epitaph with his words: 'Chill and relax'.
Football is 'the people's game,' but the money-grabbing mafia running its global governing body has sold our sport's soul — first under sleazy Sepp Blatter and now $6m-a-year Swiss lawyer Infantino.
World Cup 2026: A Litany of Problems
Sky-high ticket prices, a predicted 40°C pitch-side heat roasting players, deadly lightning storms, referee and journalists' visa bans, and Super Bowl-style half-time shows — welcome to World Cup 2026! And that's before we mention what will likely be Donald Trump political grandstanding on a scale not suffered since the disgraceful 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Infantino's White House Visit
The writing was on the wall for FIFA's approach to both Trump and the tournament being set in North America's blazing summer when, back in December last year, sporting autocrat Infantino slithered into the White House.
US President Trump will feel he is made for the World Cup — he and his country will be centre stage in front of an estimated record global audience of six billion. Every word he utters will be heard and absorbed — you can bet your bottom dollar he will be on stage to hand over the trophy after the final.
Infantino's Super Bowl Comparison
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who took on the powerful role in 2016, has already likened this World Cup to having '104 Super Bowls in one month.' He gushed: 'The Super Bowl, which is fantastic, has what, 120–130 million viewers? The World Cup has six billion.'
The 'FIFA Peace Prize' Farce
The sight of Infantino slathering all over Trump last year as he handed him the inaugural 'FIFA Peace Prize' ahead of the glitzy World Cup draw was stomach churning. Trump's FIFA Peace Prize — that's aged well, after sending the Middle-East into turmoil as he fires rockets in Iran.
I once wrote that Infantino is like a moth to Trump's flame, but he's worse — he's an enabler.
Trump's Seizure of Control
Trump has seized control of this World Cup from under FIFA's noses and they appear not to care as they focus on raking in as much money from fans as possible.
Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, fans have blasted ticket prices as a 'monumental betrayal,' and a US travel ban has excluded journalists. Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for several hours at a Chicago airport and Iran have had to switch their base to Mexico — and Infantino's response to all this?
Infantino's 'Chill and Relax' Response
In his 66-minute press conference on the eve of the tournament he dismissed it all and instead urged us all to 'chill and relax'. He went on: 'It is unfortunate what happened to Omar. But we don't control everything. We try, we discuss and we will speak. Maybe sometimes it is good as well to just chill and relax. We work on everything and try to solve everything. Sometimes, to start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution. Believe me when I tell you we always try to find solutions. We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces; we are a sports organisation. When I say 'chill', I don't mean 'chill and do nothing', I mean to trust us.'
Trust is hard-earned and easily lost. But for Infantino, it was shattered years ago.
