The 2026 World Cup concluded with Leandro Paredes grappling with Gavi, but the tournament's legacy extends far beyond the final. This was a good rather than great World Cup on the field, while behind the scenes, spectacle, scandal, and compromise dominated.
The Balogun Affair and Political Pressure
The Balogun Affair could have major consequences. FIFA bent before political pressure, sweeping aside 64 years of precedent to ensure a particular player could take the stage. This mirrored Gianni Infantino's actions with Cristiano Ronaldo and his gerrymandering of Club World Cup qualification criteria for Lionel Messi. The prioritization of revenue generation over justice or the good of the game has been a feature of the 2026 tournament. British and American politicians have increasingly criticized FIFA and its president, with potential expansion to 64 teams as Infantino shores up his base.
Scandalous Treatment of Iran and Fan Access
The treatment of Iran was scandalous and sets a worrying precedent. Ticket prices may be lower at the 2030 World Cup, but the idea that reasonable proportions go to regular fans is gone. The World Cup is no longer a mass movement but a luxury event. Host cities paid a heavy price financially and socially, with street sweeps of the homeless in the US and Canada, and outcry over water extraction and environmental damage in Mexico.
FIFA's Contempt for Media
La Gazzetta dello Sport called the World Cup a "disaster," citing ticket prices, the Balogun Affair, weather, increased games, and decreased rest. The newspaper's ticket allocation for the final was slashed from five to two after the critique. FIFA's attitude towards the media was contemptuous, with basic organization and facilities the worst for at least six World Cups. Fans are treated as revenue units, and the media as an irritating imposition.
Football: Good but Not Great
The football was good but not great. Fine games like Brazil v Japan, Morocco v Netherlands, England v Mexico, Argentina v Cape Verde, Norway v Côte d'Ivoire, Belgium v Senegal, Norway v Brazil, and Argentina v Egypt occurred mostly in the last 32 or last 16. Quarter-finals were uninspiring. Argentina's semi-final win over England was thrilling, but Spain's win over France was too easy. The final was dismal, a direct consequence of indulgence shown Argentina earlier. The ending drags the tournament behind 2022 and 2018, let alone the 1980s or 1998. Posterity will judge its rank, but it was good, not great.
