Did This World Cup Change Soccer Forever?

The historic 48-team World Cup ended in New Jersey on Sunday 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 Trump to the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino, defied the rules to favor the United States. The two men were joined at the trophy presentation by Mark Carney and Claudia Sheinbaum, the leaders of Canada and Mexico. But it was Mr. Trump who drew the attention, and jeers from the crowd in New Jersey. And it was he who accompanied Mr. Infantino to hand the World Cup trophy to Spain’s captain, Rodri. As the final approached, Mr. Trump called this World Cup “one of the all-time greatest sporting events in history.” It will certainly be the most profitable: FIFA, an ostensibly nonprofit organization based in Switzerland, expects to bank at least $13 billion, almost double what it made at the last World Cup.