So much is wrong with the 2026 World Cup
Key takeaways
- The 2026 World Cup has been heavily criticized even before it begins.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5Elxb US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have been seeing a lot of each other Image: CNP/ADM/Capital Pictures/picture alliance Advertisement1.
- This included sitting on a stage wearing a red USA baseball cap during the president's Board of Peace meeting, and presenting Trump with the newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" during the World Cup draw.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The 2026 World Cup has been heavily criticized even before it begins. The politics of US President Donald Trump, high ticket prices, the expansion to 48 teams and the environmental impact have all raised questions.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Elxb US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have been seeing a lot of each other Image: CNP/ADM/Capital Pictures/picture alliance Advertisement1. Isn't football's governing body FIFA supposed to be politically neutral? In the months leading up to the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino demonstrated unusual closeness to US President Donald Trump.
This included sitting on a stage wearing a red USA baseball cap during the president's Board of Peace meeting, and presenting Trump with the newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" during the World Cup draw.