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🇫🇷 France /Sports

World Cup 2026: Infantino, FIFA, and Trump 'ruin our toy'

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Outcome reported
  • The 2026 World Cup is criticized for its expansion to 48 teams, with only one third-place team reaching the knockout stage.
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino is blamed for pushing this expansion, potentially for economic and political reasons, despite ridicule.
  • The article also criticizes FIFA's perceived subservience to powerful figures like Donald Trump, citing issues with visas and treatment of certain nations.

The 2026 World Cup is being framed not as a celebration of football, but as a turning point in the wrong direction, largely due to decisions made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and perceived undue influence from figures like Donald Trump. While the tournament saw Spain emerge as champions after a strong performance, defeating Argentina 1-0, and featured inspiring stories from teams like Cape Verde and the efforts of the French team, the article argues these positive aspects are overshadowed by structural issues.

Trump/Infantino, a losing duo of this World Cup, a duo of gravediggers of international football.

— ReutersCited as an example of critical commentary on the World Cup's leadership and direction.

A primary criticism targets Infantino's push to expand the tournament to 48 teams. This expansion has yielded questionable results, with only one of the eight third-place teams advancing to the round of 16, Paraguay. The article suggests Infantino is already aiming for further expansion, potentially to 64 teams by 2030, driven by economic and political motivations that secure support from a majority of smaller national federations.

The 2026 World Cup marks a real turning point in the history of modern football. And not in a good way…

— Le FigaroSetting a critical tone for the article's assessment of the tournament.

The article further alleges that FIFA, under Infantino, has become subservient to powerful interests, citing the "Balogun affair" where Infantino allegedly yielded to pressure from then-President Trump. This is presented as a dangerous precedent, indicating FIFA is perceived as being "on the payroll of the powerful." The image of Infantino seemingly struggling to assert protocol with Trump during the trophy ceremony is used to illustrate this point.

The expansion to 48 teams, pushed by the former, has brought nothing good.

— Le FigaroCriticizing FIFA President Gianni Infantino's decision to expand the World Cup.

Additional criticisms include FIFA's alleged failure to pressure the United States on visa issues, preventing individuals like Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country, and the treatment of Iran. The article also points to exorbitant ticket and transportation prices, extended halftime breaks in the final, and Argentina's ability to display political messages without sanction, contrasting it with the treatment of Haiti, suggesting the World Cup was "clearly not for everyone."

FIFA is on the payroll of the powerful and no one bothers to hide it anymore.

— Le FigaroExpressing a strong opinion on FIFA's perceived lack of independence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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