John Fallon on the World Cup: Greatest show on earth tainted by competing egomaniacs

A commentary on the 2026 World Cup argues that off-field power struggles and high-profile figures have tainted the tournament despite exciting football. The piece says MetLife Stadium will host 82,500 fans with a minimum face-value ticket price of $6,000 and focuses on FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s invitations to prominent political figures. It cites Infantino’s decision to invite Donald Trump onto the pitch to co-present the trophy on Sunday and links this to concerns about neutrality, referencing an “inaugural peace prize” mentioned as given during the finals draw in Washington in December. The article also alleges that FIFA disciplinary decisions involving Folarin Balogun’s dismissal in a Bosnia-Herzegovina match were handled by a single committee chairman without wider consultation. It points to prior scrutiny around disciplinary bans, and mentions a petition by 50 members of the European Parliament calling for investigation by FIFA’s ethics committee. The text concludes by noting another tournament expansion leak amid political timing.