The World Cup has long attracted the attention of authoritarian leaders. According to the article, Donald Trump is seen as the latest link in this chain.
The text emphasizes that football is based on mutual trust established on the field. It argues that moments when the ball, players, and team move in unison cannot be manufactured by money, power, or cameras.
Authoritarian Interest in Sports
The article notes that for nearly a century, powerful leaders have tried to manipulate football to glorify themselves. However, the true appeal of the sport lies in a collective sense of belonging that no leader can fully claim.
In this context, it recalls Benito Mussolini’s spectacle built around the 1934 World Cup held in Italy. Mussolini pressured to bring the tournament to fascist Italy, dined with the Swedish referee before the semifinals, and after Italians lifted the trophy, alongside the real cup, his own six-times-larger Coppa del Duce was also displayed.
The text also states that Mussolini did not initiate this spectacle alone. When the Argentine military junta hosted the 1978 World Cup, it is remembered that political prisoners were tortured very close to the stadium where the final was played, and chants reached their cells.
It is reported that Qatar spent about 200 billion dollars on the 2022 World Cup, turning the tournament into a massive showcase, using the labor of migrant workers in the process. The article notes that hundreds of these workers died.
The former FIFA secretary-general once said, "Sometimes less democracy is better to host the World Cup." The article concludes that although the names change, the desire for authoritarian spectacle remains unchanged.
Trump’s Entrance onto the Stage
Trump’s role in this picture is described under a separate heading. The article says Trump wanted something no rally could provide: a crowd that appears to have come together freely from around the world.
The text also mentions that FIFA awarded Trump the "Peace Award" for the first time in December. In a White House photo, Trump is seen holding a giant replica of a World Cup final ticket, with Gianni Infantino smiling beside him.
Who Does the Crowd Serve?
The central question of the article is why the crowd has gathered. On one side is a crowd that supports the authoritarian leader, brightens his image, and directs applause to him; on the other is the real community made up of migrant children, muddy fields, and strangers finding each other.
The text argues that football belongs to this second crowd. The game became the world’s most beloved sport precisely because it is played with just a ball and other people, rewarding cooperation, trust, and the temporary suspension of self-interest.
In conclusion, the article says Trump will take his place in the front row like Mussolini, raising his golden ticket and believing the spectacle belongs to him. However, it emphasizes that the true owners of the game are those who play without money in the rain and run confidently into open spaces.
