Tomorrow's draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place a mere mile from the White House, is poised to be overshadowed by an unprecedented level of political theatre. The global celebration of football risks being transformed into a platform for the increasingly controversial alliance between former US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
A Ceremony Choreographed for Political Spotlight
The symbolic setting of the Kennedy Centre, now chaired by Trump following board reshuffles earlier this year, will host football legends, American sports stars, and celebrities. However, the most conspicuous figures will be Trump himself, alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The event's programme bears the unmistakable imprint of Trump's preferences.
In a striking departure from tradition, the ceremony will feature a newly created FIFA Peace Prize, widely anticipated to be awarded to the US leader. This follows Infantino's public assertion last month that Trump deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in an Israel-Gaza ceasefire. Critics argue this move exposes FIFA's alarming drift from its pledge of political neutrality, repurposing the world's most popular sport as a political billboard.
Deepening Ties and Growing Alarm
Senior football officials warn the draw risks crossing a line from sporting event to propaganda pageant. The deepening ties between Infantino and Trump, they say, send a dangerous message that FIFA is content to be associated with the 'Make America Great Again' movement and its divisive politics. This alarm intensified after Trump's recent inflammatory comments about Somali immigrants.
The relationship is both institutional and personal. FIFA has opened a new office in Trump Tower, and Infantino was the only sports official present at an October summit in Egypt where Trump signed a Gaza declaration. Their rapport is notably selective; Infantino maintained a cooler relationship with President Joe Biden and has warm ties with leaders like Vladimir Putin, who awarded him a Russian Order of Friendship in 2019.
Consequences for the Tournament and the Game
Trump's domestic policies already threaten to overshadow the 2026 tournament. Immigration restrictions on 19 countries affect qualifiers like Iran and Haiti, with Iran threatening to boycott the draw. Human rights groups warn the event occurs against a backdrop of violent immigrant detentions and the cancellation of FIFA's own anti-racism campaigns.
For Trump and Infantino, the alliance is mutually beneficial. The US leader gains a global spectacle in an election year, while Infantino secures power and visibility ahead of his own re-election bid. However, the price for football may be far higher. Critics fear the World Cup is at risk of being 'weaponised for authoritarian aims', with the sport's integrity compromised when entangled with raw political ambition. The ultimate losers, they argue, will be the beautiful game and its billions of global supporters.
