They say that in football the protagonist should be the ball. But Donald Trump attracts the spotlight wherever he goes, and Friday’s World Cup draw in Washington will be no exception. Perhaps it will be more important than ever before … Sports event. FIFA has designed a party tailored to him, with the clear goal of entertaining him: from programming a medley of his favorite campaign songs – Village People and “YMCA” – to the certain possibility that he will walk out of the draw with the “Peace Prize” in hand.
It was something to be expected. The efforts made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to please the US President were evident and will be definitively embodied in the ceremony that will be held at the Kennedy Center, the great cultural center in Washington. Here everything is already ready, including the presence of the World Cup Gold Cup, for the draw that will determine the composition of the twelve groups of four teams and will give an idea of the path each country will take in the competition.
Infantino has cultivated a cozy relationship with Trump, which some question as a violation of FIFA’s supposed political neutrality. The soccer king has visited the White House on several occasions, brought Trump a replica of the trophy and lavished praise on him whenever he could. He even attended Egypt’s conference for the Gaza peace agreement.
Trump responded enthusiastically. He entered the tournament, knowing that it was the biggest event in the world and that it would bring him more attention. He was in the penalty area in the new version of the Club World Cup in its final in New Jersey.
On that day, Trump got people talking: he infiltrated the champions’ celebration, Chelsea, on the field. He is likely to do so again on Friday. Perhaps because he performs his famous dance during the YMCA performance (which some American football stars imitate when they score a “touchdown”), and it is the same dance with which he ends his rallies. Or maybe because he’s leaving the Kennedy Center with an award.
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced early last month the launch of the inaugural edition of its tournament “Peace Prize”. Suspiciously, this happened in the middle of the debate over whether Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, after promoting a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza.
“You’ll see”was the ambiguous answer Infantino gave when asked if the award would go to Trump. Any other possibility would be an unbearable aggravation for the US President.
The second World Cup in the United States of America
FIFA has made efforts to make the draw a wake-up call for the second World Cup in the United States, where soccer has grown strongly since the 1994 edition, but remains far behind other sports. But to interest those who don’t know how to kick a ball, the draw will include stars from other sports: Tom Brady, the best player in American football history; Wayne Gretzky, his ice hockey equivalent; Aaron Judge, three-time Major League Baseball Player of the Year, including the last two seasons; And Shaquille O’Neal, NBA legend.
Among these will be a host of soccer figures, unknown to the vast majority of the United States, many of whom remain, one hopes, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The official delegation of Spain is headed by coach Luis de la Fuente. Federation President Rafael Lausanne; And sporting director Aitor Karanka. The three of them can walk the streets of Washington without any problem.
The Spanish representation in the draw will consist of Luis de la Fuente, Rafael Luzan, and Aitor Karanka.
Quite the opposite of the concert’s presenters: American comedian Kevin Hart, German supermodel Heidi Klum And the American actor – of Mexican and Colombian origin – Danny Ramirez. Alongside them will be musical pieces: Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli – another Trump favorite – and a duet by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger. All this before the villagers conclude the ceremony with a “YMCA.” We will see if Trump will dance on stage, as he did last January at his inauguration celebration.