Of all the outrageous things Donald Trump has done, from bombing other countries to appeasing dictators, his sneaky interference in last week’s USA v Belgium World Cup match sparked by far the most united and furious reaction across the world. Condemnation was all but universal. Trump’s cheating heart cannot understand the unmatched, ubiquitous power that the “beautiful game” exercises over ordinary lives everywhere. It massively surpasses his own. The world truly loves football. It doesn’t love him. And then USA lost the match anyway. Karma. This modern morality play joyously illuminated the limits of authoritarianism.

In an age dominated by overbearing, illiberal economic and military powers, the men’s World Cup is upending the conventional geopolitical pecking order and power balances in refreshing and instructive ways. In this alternative universe, smaller nations – and ordinary people – can and often do get a bigger shout. Despite huge state investment in all aspects of the game, China again failed to qualify. Russia, never much good at football in the first place, was kicked out after invading Ukraine. And despite all Trump’s Maga hooliganism, the US remains soccer small fry. So much for superpowers.

Tiny Belgium was understandably shocked by Fifa’s rule-shredding decision to reinstate a red-carded USA player, Folarin Balogun, at Trump’s furtive request. The riposte came on the pitch. The co-hosts were crushed 4-1 on an evening when the entire world beyond the US seemed to be rooting for Belgium. This was a triumph of democratic as well as sporting significance. The machinations of a megalomaniac bully and an organisation infamous for corruption and greed were thwarted. In the tournament’s early stages, a clutch of underdog countries also proudly defied the powers-that-be. Give it up for Cape Verde, Curaçao and DR Congo! How often do you hear that?

The fact eight of the........

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