Fifa's president, Gianni Infantino, has proposed privatising the World Cup with $20bn in private capital from JP Morgan and Thrive Capital, a move the article argues exemplifies an increasingly authoritarian style of leadership that mirrors tactics used by Donald Trump, including rewarding loyal football associations and sidelining dissenters. The piece contends that this matters because Fifa, nominally a democratic body serving "the people's game", is instead concentrating power, avoiding scrutiny and stifling internal consultation, raising the prospect that only external oversight from governments and NGOs can check its direction.

The article cites Infantino's role in awarding Trump a Fifa peace prize and reversing a red card against a US player as evidence of a broader pattern of favouritism, and notes that many within Fifa learned of the privatisation plan through the media rather than proper consultation. Although Fifa's statutes cap presidents at three terms, Infantino, first elected in 2016, has signalled he could seek re-election in 2027. Regional bodies including Uefa, the AFC and Concacaf have publicly criticised him, with Europe threatening a boycott, yet Mexico, Qatar, several Asian associations and the 54-member Confederation of African Football have voiced support, leaving him needing just 106 votes to survive a re-election bid next March.