2026 World Cup: Gianni Infantino Faces Widespread Backlash Despite Record Revenue
The 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded on Sunday evening, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino facing intense criticism despite the tournament's financial success. The event generated over 13 billion euros for FIFA, exceeding initial projections of 10 billion. However, Infantino was booed during the closing ceremony alongside US President Donald Trump, who praised the tournament as 'five times more successful than any previous World Cup.' Critics, including geopolitical expert Pascal Boniface and Swiss journalist David Lemos, accused Infantino of acting as a 'lackey' to Trump and overseeing the most mercantile and politicized World Cup in history. Controversies included exorbitant ticket prices, cooling breaks, and travel restrictions that prevented a Somali referee from entering the US and forced the Iranian team to leave immediately after matches. Infantino defended the tournament as a success that 'unites the world,' but media outlets like Le Monde noted his 'tarnished reputation' and 'frank hostility' from football fans.
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