World Cup draw derailed by Fifa's silly political game

THE much-anticipated draw for the Fifa World Cup 2026 took a shocking turn on Friday evening as the event at Washington's prestigious Kennedy Centre spiralled into a chaotic blend of football and politics.

- HERMAN GIBBS

The offerings at the Final Draw diverged starkly from its original intention as a celebration of the beautiful game. It was supposed to signal a joyful countdown to the world’s largest football tournament, but instead, it turned into a long, fragmented spectacle that bewildered fans and officials.

The draw, which determines the group-stage match-ups for the upcoming tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, was overshadowed by an unexpected wave of political discourse that erupted during the event.

Early in the evening, Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s declaration that “it’s not a normal draw” appeared to foreshadow a night where a series of contentious statements and jarring humour overshadowed the global sporting event.

The resultant outcry on social media pointed to deep unease among fans and analysts alike, as it featured politicised interpretations of global crises.