Does Soccer Still Explain the World?
This analysis from The New Republic critiques FIFA President Gianni Infantino's romanticized view of soccer as a unifying force, contrasting it with the political and commercial realities of the 2026 World Cup. It highlights Infantino's close ties to Donald Trump, including inventing a 'FIFA Peace Prize' for Trump and participating in his Board of Peace, while remaining silent on xenophobic travel bans and the detention of players and officials. The article notes the political history of World Cups, from Mussolini's Italy to Trump's US, and points out the exclusion of the Iranian national team from staying overnight despite Trump's claimed victory in the Iran war. It also discusses the shift in football ownership from Russian oligarchs to American hedge funds and Gulf state investors, concluding that soccer is ultimately about money and power rather than hope and unity.
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