So, the Bad People Won?

Of course, sport is sport and politics is politics, so one shouldn’t read too much into it. Yet the FIFA 2026 World Cup win undoubtedly delivers a nice political irony: right under the eyes of US President D. Trump, the team that triumphed in New Jersey was—of all nations—the one whose government is distinguished by its steadfast refusal to treat Donald Trump with eager subservience.

Only recently, Trump had labeled the Spaniards “bad people” and “hopeless” for this very reason and announced the termination of all trade relations.

This is where he loses me every time (not that he ever ‘had’ me). Because I believe no leader of the so-called civilized world should call another nation bad or condemn a country and all its citizens.

Yesterday, he had to present the World Cup trophy to the Spanish team. It would hardly have surprised anyone if Trump had simply confiscated the golden trophy and taken it home as a souvenir instead. Who would have stopped him? Certainly not FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.

It wasn’t a particularly beautiful match, but it was a fast-paced game, and at the end the better team won yesterday.

I am glad it’s over. I watched too much soccer, and so did my husband, who still doesn’t understand the offside rule, perhaps because I can’t explain it right. Every four years I turn into a frantic, cursing, whistling soccer fan, who cheers for more than one nation, which doesn’t make the task any easier.

We have a winner: Viva España

As of today, there are just 1,420 days left until the opening match of the next men’s World Cup in 2030. That depends on how you calculate it, though; it’s a bit complicated. But we certainly have plenty of time to sort this out now.

The FIFA World Cup 2030 will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. It will be the 100th anniversary of the tournament; one opening match will be played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

It will mark the 100th anniversary of the very first World Cup, which was held in Uruguay in 1930.

Uruguay is the most obvious choice because it hosted the very first World Cup and also won it. Argentina was there too and actually played Uruguay in the final, losing 4–2.

Paraguay is included as part of the South American centenary celebration, and it is also home to CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer.

Each of the three countries will host one special anniversary match before the main tournament continues in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

I actually think this is a beautiful idea. The World Cup will return, even if only briefly, to the place where it all began 100 years earlier.

Of course, it also means that the 2030 World Cup will be played across six countries and three continents, which has never happened before.

By then we will be retired. The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, is a beautiful city. If we are still fit enough to travel and will be able to afford it (both are in question), then this would be a wonderful reason to pack the suitcases.

The 2034 tournament will then be hosted solely by Saudi Arabia.

The winners of the 1930 FIFA Word Cup: Uruguay and their tball