The FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico is drawing to a close. It has been, in the century-long history of FIFA, both the most successful and the most controversial tournament ever staged. The expansion of participating teams and the number of matches set new records, as did attendance figures and commercial revenues. As FIFA's ninth president, Gianni Infantino has every reason to celebrate what he would call a series of "historic achievements."

If this World Cup is to be remembered as the best ever, it will be in spite of their efforts, not because of them.

A disputed reprieve for a U.S. player and strict limits on Iran’s team have inflamed criticism that politics is intruding on soccer’s biggest event