As a sports-adverse person, I don't care much about the upcoming World Cup. But I am curious about all the ways that the United States seems to be messing things up for itself, from transportation to ticket sales. Because there's something analogous about all these hiccups and our dwindling standing in the world, no?
Well, today's serving arrives via my colleague Russ Choma, who reports that President Trump's crypto partners are offering World Cup box seats to high-ranking meme coin holders to boost their floundering business. Here's what you get in return:
Perks will include access to a swanky stadium suite, three nights at the St. Regis hotel, chauffeured rides to the stadium, an invitation to a gala, an “elite” afterparty, and “exclusive World Cup nightclub access.” The apparently AI-generated illustration on the website shows a generic stadium, with guests dining and facing away from the game. One figure is wearing a red hat that says “$TRUMP” instead of “MAKE AMERICAN GREAT AGAIN”—a not especially subtle clue about where the Trump presidency is heading.
Not to be forgotten in all of this: Trump has quite the cozy relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Read more here.
—Inae Oh
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