3 October-Het Oval Office is a news-producing factory, in which US President Donald Trump is in charge of pushing policy and strategy, but he is reminded that when it comes to the World Cup, the last word does not belong to Washington, but to FIFA.
Trump caused heart palpitations at FIFA headquarters when he suggested that he could explain host cities “not safe” and races away from the carefully manufactured 2026 plan that was ratified by FIFA two years ago.
It was a surprising claim, since the tournament schedule ensures careful planning and enormous costs with stadiums, training centers and hotels that are already under contract.
Fifa Vice President Victor Montagliani, never anyone who was cowed said, “It is the FIFA’s Tournament, Fifa’s Jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”
The Canadian, who also serves as president of Concacaf, added: “With all due respect for current world leaders, football is larger than she and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans. That is the great thing about our game, is that it is bigger than any individual and larger than any country.”
The words of Montagliani have a serious punch and weight and remind that football does not time for a four -year election cycle of the government or the whims of an individual politician.
Yet the reality is not that easy. The FIFA can have the tournament, but it is based on host governments for billions in safety, logistics and visa infrastructure. FIFA can try to dictate, but at the end of the day the United States holds the keys to enforcement on the ground.
This is where Trump’s bromance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino is muddling the waters. The two men enjoyed a flowery relationship with Infantino, a regular guest in the White House, but whether Infantino has the influence to draw on Trump, there is much doubt.
FIFA often drives the worn mores that his empire is built on the idea that football transcends politics, boundaries and personalities. But the decision of Infantino to merge Trump and bring the world cup to the political mainstream, has turned the World Cup into the proverbial political football in itself. More than even the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
In the case of Trump that threatens to move, may sound like recklessness, but this is an American president who has no problem to use a tool to make his point, and if there are shrines that he thinks he should send a message, the World Cup would be a sit-up-and-like.
Not the power of the World Cup is much greater than any president.
As Montagliani said it so appropriately, football has always been bigger than slogans. FIFA will desperately hope that 2026 is not the tournament that test or the World Cup is actually greater and more important than an American president.
Regarding the political choices of Infantino for FIFA. Sometimes you have to be careful with whom you invite for dinner, you don’t want them to take over your house.
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