Trump Once Played Soccer
By the time Donald Trump was in his senior year at New York Military Academy, he had quit playing football and decided to join the varsity soccer team. Most of his teammates were from South or Central America, the children of diplomats and military officers: four Colombians, two Peruvians, and players from Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Venezuela.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump played soccer as a defender in his senior year of high school, with many teammates from Latin America.
- Trump has expressed interest in soccer's spectacle, hosting stars like Messi and Ronaldo, and is expected to be prominent during the upcoming World Cup hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, presenting him with numerous gifts and honors, including a specially created FIFA Peace Prize.
- Infantino's FIFA has leased office space in Trump Tower, and Infantino has frequently appeared alongside Trump at various events.
- The partnership between Trump and Infantino appears transactional, driven by a shared desire for profits, image enhancement, global reach, and a willingness to overlook ethical concerns or human rights records.
- Trump's past efforts to secure the World Cup bid for the US involved pledges of non-discrimination, which contrast with current travel restrictions affecting fans from certain countries.
- Both Trump and Infantino are seeking to extend their terms of leadership, suggesting a continued, albeit potentially transactional, alliance.