Miguel Delaney On The World Cup

The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the US, Mexico, and Canada, is facing unprecedented scrutiny not just for its scale but for the commercial and political controversies surrounding it. Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer for The Independent, argues that the tournament’s sheer size—expanded to 48 teams—has diluted the emotional and narrative intimacy that once defined the World Cup. He highlights how intrusive commercial breaks during water breaks, especially on US broadcaster Fox, are breaking the rhythm of matches and alienating fans. These ads, often featuring global football stars like Christian Pulisic and David Beckham, feel jarring in the context of high-stakes football, undermining the authenticity of the event. Beyond the ads, Delaney points to deeper systemic issues: FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s apparent subservience to Donald Trump, the lack of visa support for teams from Muslim-majority nations like Iran and Senegal, and the use of dynamic ticket pricing that has left stadiums half-empty. Despite these challenges, Delaney remains confident that football itself will ultimately transcend the noise—just as it did in Qatar 2022, where human rights controversies were overshadowed by Messi’s historic triumph. But he warns that this moment may be a turning point: growing dissent within FIFA’s member federations, especially in Africa, could finally challenge Infantino’s grip on power.