In 1934, Fascist Italy, hosting the World Cup, channelled vast public funds into monumental stadium construction, controlled media narratives, and pressured match officials. When the Soviet Union refused to play a World Cup qualifier on the bloodstained pitch, FIFA refused to move the venue. Perhaps the starkest example of 20th-century “sportswashing” occurred during the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. This shift reached a milestone during the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. High-profile appearances at Trump Tower, political interventions on player eligibility, and joint trophy presentations underscored how modern sports governance increasingly intersects with national political leadership.