Extra Time for FIFA’s troubles
Following Spain's victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the organization faces significant backlash regarding political ties, financial privatization plans, and player conduct. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under pressure from both the U.S. Congress and European football associations.
Why it matters
The controversy threatens the governance and commercial future of global football, potentially leading to boycotts and structural changes within FIFA.
The summit clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a cagey affair with a solitary goal in 120 minutes of play. It was a sorry departure from the rest of the tournament, which averaged 2.96 goals per game – the highest since 1970. Argentina became the first finalist to have zero shots on target in 90 minutes, while Spain absorbed the pressure — and its share of crunching tackles — to systematically wear them down, until the killer blow of Ferran Torres’s goal in extra time. For those of us who had to sit up late into the night ahead of a working Monday, it wasn’t the most fitting finale, but ultimately Spain, the tournament’s best team, deservedly won.
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