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Original article: Se fue el Mundial, pero quedaron los escándalos: racismo en redes, el intervencionismo de Trump y el genocidio que la FIFA no vio

The Disgraceful World Cup: Infantino Honors Trump While Gaza Watches Football Among Ruins

Trump, Infantino, and the Art of Disgrace

The 2026 World Cup concluded on Sunday with a final match between Argentina (0) and Spain (1), but the tournament left behind a trail of scandals that extend beyond the sport. The most blatant was the intervention by Donald Trump, who didn’t hesitate to leverage his influence over FIFA President Gianni Infantino to favor his team. When U.S. star forward Folarin Balogun received a red card that would have sidelined him for the next match, Trump called his «friend» Infantino, and magically, the sanction was lifted. As pointed out by Spanish outlet La Marea, the U.S. president even boasted on social media about what could be deemed as «influence peddling.»

Infantino’s subservience to power didn’t stop there. During the tournament, the FIFA chief found time to endorse Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, a maneuver many viewed as an attempt at image laundering for a leader who, concurrently, was ramping up military offensives in the Middle East.

The phrase Infantino used to justify the expulsion of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir—who was sent home after 11 hours of interrogation for being «suspicious by decree» of Trump—summarizes his philosophy: «It’s a shame, but we can’t control everything, so it’s better to relax. Relax and chill».

Racism in the Stands and Official Discourses

Racist expressions overshadowed much of the tournament, with FIFA warning that this type of discrimination represented 11% of offensive content detected on social media, surpassing the 8% recorded during Qatar 2022, according to Chequeado.

However, the issue wasn’t confined to fans. Public officials from Argentina, Paraguay, and Spain featured in episodes of institutional racism. Argentine presidential advisor Santiago Caputo tweeted: «What a stone it is to be black. Hollywood is to blame» after Brazil’s elimination. The deputy governor of Mendoza, Hebe Casado, referred to the Paraguayan team as «the poorly-mannered African team«.

Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla labeled French forward Kylian Mbappé as «a colonized Cameroonian«, prompting a response from the player who called her «a despicable woman unworthy of her position.» The Paraguayan Foreign Ministry had to issue a statement rejecting her comments, clarifying that they «do not represent» the Paraguayan people. Former Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, was also called out for racist remarks disguised as jokes, which La Marea described as «cavalier racism.»

The Double Standards of Power

The differential treatment among teams highlighted the double standards of the tournament. While the conflict between the United States and Iran marked the geopolitics of the event, the Iranian team received hostility in some sectors in the U.S., whereas Mexico, as the host nation, attempted to project an image of hospitality contrasting with the migratory policies of its northern neighbor.

Meanwhile, the match between Egypt and Argentina was also singled out for unequal media treatment compared to other games, reflecting the implicit hierarchy that global power imposes even in sports.

Gaza: The World Cup That Wasn’t Seen

While the world celebrated football, in Gaza, the local population followed the tournament as an act of resistance. Large screens set up amidst the rubble allowed children and families to momentarily disconnect from the attacks and massacres, even though the ongoing genocide did not cease.

Mohamed al Wahidi, 65, coordinated free screenings for thousands of displaced people. The Israeli attack that took his life just hours before the Egypt-Argentina match also killed three others, including two children returning from football practice.

Since the onset of the conflict in October 2023, 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 1,000 athletes. Al-Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza has turned into a refuge for survivors, and 285 sports facilities have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, FIFA remained silent, busy awarding Trump and managing its own image crises. A Gazan volunteer summarized the stark contrast between the sporting celebration and the genocidal reality in Palestine: «Football is not just a game. It’s proof that we are still here, that life prevails amidst the bombs».

Solidarity and Resistance

Solidarity with Palestine also found its moments during the tournament. Players like Lamine Yamal waved the Palestinian flag in their celebrations, gestures that were met with gratitude in Gaza, where murals were painted in their honor.

In Chile, the Palestino Sports Club expressed its sorrow over the killings of footballers in Gaza, reminding that the Palestinian community in Chile is the largest outside of West Asia (Middle East).

In early July, as the World Cup was drawing attention away, a Palestinian goalkeeper was killed in Gaza. The Club Palestino from Chile demanded justice and «peace for an entire people,» noting: “we deeply regret the death of Saleem Al-Ashqar, a 32-year-old Palestinian goalkeeper who defended the colors of Khadamat Khan Younis and lost his life at the hands of the Israeli army,” as reported by the institution through its official Instagram account.

What Remains of the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup has ended, but it left lessons that transcend football. A tournament where Trump refereed from outside the field with grotesque interventionism, Infantino polished images, and racism found a platform in officials who should represent integrity. Where football, amidst genocide, became a refuge for those who lost everything. The World Cup may be over, but the scandals remain.

La entrada World Cup 2026 Ends with Scandals: Racism, Trump’s Intervention, and the Ongoing Genocide Ignored by FIFA se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.