The 2026 World Cup Final descended into hooliganism

Spain finally won the 2026 FIFA World Cup final during extra time at the MetLife Stadium in the US on Sunday. Then hell broke loose as fights broke out between the two teams. Some Argentine players lost control of their emotions and attacked Spain’s substitutes and staff who ran on to the pitch to celebrate their 1- 0 win against the South American team.

Britain’s wartime premier Winston Churchill once phrased rugby as “a hooligans’ game played by gentlemen” and its counterpart football as a “gentleman’s game played by hooligans”. The finals of the 2026 Football World Cup was sadly reduced the status of a ‘hooligan’s game’ referred to by Churchill.  

A sad finish to the controversial 2026 Football World Cup Tournament. The tournament was marred by controversy even before a ball was kicked. 

FIFA Chief Infantino politicised the tournament even before the tournament commenced by bestowing a ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ to American President Donald Trump. The move was seen worldwide, as an attempt to boost the ego of the American leader who was angered that the Nobel Committee did not bestow on him the ‘Nobel Peace Prize’.

The Nobel Committees are specialised working bodies responsible for evaluating nominations and recommending laureates for the various  Prizes. There are six committees, each operating under its respective awarding institution in Sweden and Norway. The Nobel Peace Prize is evaluated by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which consists of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

The inaugural FIFA Peace Prize was awarded to Donald Trump in December 2025 on the grounds of his “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and for “promoting peace and unity around the world”. 

Less than four months after Infantino made his controversial award to Trump, the American leader launched sneak attacks on Iran even while negotiations between the two countries were ongoing. Human rights groups have filed complaints with FIFA, arguing that the presentation of an award to an active political leader breached the organisation’s duty of political neutrality.  

Much worse, the Trump administration in the US has been actively participating in the ongoing genocide committed in Palestine’s Gaza. The US under Trump provides Israel with the arms to continue its attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza. Even worse,  through the veto the US exercises at the UN Security Council,  it prevents even the condemnation of Israeli actions.

The controversies do not end there. The US was slammed by Iran over “discriminatory treatment” of not granting visas to some members of the Iranian national team’s delegation to attend the 2026 World Cup tournament. The US also imposed strict visa conditions, such as not permitting Iranian players to remain in the US when they played matches in that country. It required them (players) to enter and leave US soil on the exact day of their matches.

The FIFA made no protest at these discriminatory moves by the US president and his administration. Football fans however, made their feeling clear. When the American leader walked out for the trophy presentation ceremony at the finals alongside FIFA’s Gianni Infantino –the duo were booed by the crowd.

When FIFA trophies for individual awards such as ‘the player of the tournament’ (won by ‘Rodri’) were awarded,  the trophy was presented by Yasir al-Rumayyan, the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This shows how the football boss permits politics to influence the game. 

The 2026 World cup tournament had a number of other shortcomings as well. Players and teams continue publicly protesting refereeing decisions. A senior member of the coaching staff of a particular country ran on to the playing field to challenge a particular decision and had to be ordered off the field.

US President Trump appealed a refereeing decision and had the suspension of a US player lifted. 

It would appear that players, politicians and even members of the coaching staff (who should be maintaining standards) are beginning to feel that they are bigger than the game itself. It is time FIFA tightened rules governing the actions of its administrators of the game. Else, soon the game will actually descend to the level of ruffians, who  Sadly happen to be  idols of the young  the world over.

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