Trump et Infantino : Jusqu’au bout de la honte

The 2026 World Cup ended with Spain's victory over Argentina. This edition will be remembered above all for the omnipresence of political power, influence, and money. Never before had FIFA seemed so subservient to those in power. Donald Trump, who walked onto the pitch to present the trophy, symbolized this stranglehold: a spectacle more akin to the Super Bowl than to football, with commercial breaks disguised as "refreshment" breaks and a halftime extended to 30 minutes. Arbitrary decisions abounded: the exclusion of a Somali referee, the banning of certain fan delegations, and the requirement for the Iranian team to play in the United States without sleeping there, adding unnecessary fatigue to the players. Donald Trump, who dislikes football but loves the cameras, used the event to display his power, disregarding the credibility of the competition. Furthermore, he also intervened to prevent the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun, recalling some of football's worst precedents, such as in 1934 under Mussolini or in 1982 with the brother of the Emir of Kuwait. This World Cup also marked progress with the expansion to 48 teams, giving visibility to smaller national teams and confirming the universality of football. But this expansion, while allowing for more matches and more revenue, was not enough to mask the problems: a FIFA subservient to the government, an Infantino willing to do anything to please Trump, and impoverished federations seduced by an unequal redistribution of wealth. Faced with this trend, UEFA is beginning to stir, while the Council of Europe is warning against the growing influence of money and power on sport. Will the next edition, co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, be subject to the same interference? Or will it manage to preserve the integrity of football, free from political and financial calculations? ➡️ FIND PASCAL BONIFACE ON: Facebook: https://cutt.ly/9W4KpNB Twitter:   / pascalboniface   Instagram: https://cutt.ly/8W4J9Iw LinkedIn: https://cutt.ly/XW4Ku4W