The World Cup is mired in controversy, despite Donald Trump’s strong ties with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who extended a warm welcome to him before the event began.
During the World Cup draw, Infantino awarded Trump FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize, highlighting the organization’s aim to maintain a solid relationship with the White House.
Subsequently, Trump ordered military action against Iran, which led to criticism from opponents questioning the Peace Prize’s timing.
A source in Washington stated, “There’s growing unease within Trump’s circle about the tournament’s potential developments, particularly if England or Scotland perform well and draw larger crowds and media focus.
“Football fans are vastly different from the typical audiences politicians deal with. They are boisterous, persistent, and often unconcerned about the political or diplomatic sensitivity of chants.
“The worry is that if one of the home nations advances significantly in the tournament, the number of fans chanting anti-Trump slogans will increase. Advisers recognize that once these chants gain momentum, they can quickly spread throughout a stadium.
“The possibility of the president being at the center of such an atmosphere is causing significant concern among staff responsible for managing his public appearances.”
