Tariq PanjaJul 20, 2026 – 11.47amThe historic 48-team World Cup ended in New Jersey on Monday AEST with Spain defeating Argentina in the biggest, most lucrative tournament on record.Yet its ultimate legacy may be defined by a political scandal that shattered FIFA’s claim to neutrality: revelations that a phone call from President Donald Trump to the organisation’s president, Gianni Infantino, defied the rules to favour the United States.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles