“I want you to make me an obscene parody of the World Cup trophy. It’s not easy to say, but maybe a look at the kind of companies that sponsor the World Cup suggests an answer. US president Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino at last Friday's World Cup draw in Washington. In Brazil 2014, the most recent World Cup held in the western hemisphere, the latest kick-offs were at 11pm Irish time. As he takes the World Cup away from Europe, Infantino is helping in his small way to set the terms of the new order.

Source: The Irish Times December 08, 2025 12:01 UTC