When the United States were awarded the right to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, football fans around the world had every reason to celebrate.

The tournament was heading to one of the world's sporting powerhouses, with iconic stadiums, world-class infrastructure and passionate supporters ready to welcome the world's biggest sporting event.

Instead, part of this World Cup has been overshadowed by controversies that have had little to do with football.

I say this not as a political commentator, but as someone who loves the game.

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The 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar were both surrounded by political debate before kick-off. Yet once the football began, the focus largely returned to the pitch. Fans, journalists, players and officials from across the world travelled, worked and celebrated the tournament together.

This World Cup has felt different.

Questions over visa restrictions, travel arrangements for some participating nations and officials, and the relationship between politics and football have repeatedly stolen headlines that should have belonged to the players.

Perhaps no incident better illustrates that concern than the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's suspension.

After the American striker was sent off in the round of 32, his one-match ban appeared straightforward. Then came reports that political pressure had been brought to bear to allow him to play against Belgium, with FIFA ultimately overturning the suspension.

President Donald Trump confirmed he personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension. Describing the play as a "horrible" and unfair decision rather than a foul, he took credit for prompting the review but stated he did not demand the ban be overturned.

Whether one supports the United States or not is beside the point.

The mere perception that political influence could alter a disciplinary decision is damaging enough.

Football depends on one principle above all others: every team must compete under the same rules.

Once supporters begin to believe those rules can be rewritten for powerful nations, influential politicians or tournament hosts, confidence in the competition begins to erode.

Ironically, the decision achieved nothing.

Belgium comfortably defeated the United States 4-1 to eliminate the hosts from their own World Cup.

But the result is almost irrelevant.

Belgium's victory cannot undo the precedent that appeared to be set.

If political leaders can influence disciplinary decisions today, what prevents future governments from lobbying over referee appointments, suspensions, scheduling or even tournament regulations tomorrow?

That is a road football should never travel.

FIFA has long insisted that politics should stay out of football.

National associations have been suspended for government interference. Countries have been sanctioned when politicians attempted to influence football administration.

Those principles cannot suddenly become flexible because the pressure comes from a powerful nation or a host government.

The laws of the game must apply equally to everyone.

The smallest football nation should receive exactly the same treatment as the largest.

Hosts deserve passionate support from their home crowd and not special treatment behind closed doors.

Football's greatest strength has always been its fairness.

Ninety minutes. Eleven against eleven. The same referee. The same laws.

That is what makes the World Cup special.

Not politics. Not influence. Not power.

As the tournament moves into its decisive stages, one hopes FIFA also reflects on the lessons of the past few weeks.

The game's governing body exists to protect football, not politics.

Presidents and governments will always be important partners in staging major tournaments. Their support is essential for security, logistics and infrastructure.

But partnership must never become interference.

Matches should be won by goals, tactics and courage and not by influence exerted far from the pitch.

If football is truly the world's game, then FIFA must be prepared to defend its integrity, regardless of who is applying the pressure.

Because once politics starts deciding football matches, everyone loses.