​Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, Miguel Delaney, chief football writer at The Independent. To view your questions and my answers, scroll down and be sure to click “load more” to see the full Q&A. This World Cup has delivered some of the most dramatic football in years, from Messi’s tearful reunion with Lionel Scaloni after Argentina’s last-16 comeback against Egypt to England’s roller-coaster victory over Mexico. Yet alongside the on-pitch drama, a much larger story is taking shape around Fifa itself.
The fallout from the Trump interference controversy involving Folarin Balogun has put Fifa under serious scrutiny regarding sporting integrity, with Egypt coach Hossam Hassan among those openly suggesting the tournament has been swayed by off-field factors. Gianni Infantino has faced calls to resign, and suspicion—real or not—surrounds even marginal refereeing decisions, a problem of Fifa’s own making. Add the financial reality of a quarter-final lineup dominated by Europe’s wealthiest footballing nations, and Fifa appears to be navigating a legitimacy crisis just as the football on the pitch has been among the most compelling in years.
I’ll discuss all of this—Infantino’s position, what the Balogun/Trump saga means for Fifa’s credibility, and where the governing body goes from here—with Independent readers in an exclusive Ask Me Anything session. Make sure you’re logged in with a registered independent.co.uk account. If you’re not, register or log in now, then return to this page to submit your question.
As chief football writer, I’ve spent years covering Fifa, its politics, and the power dynamics that shape the game at the highest levels. I’ll be here to answer your questions about Infantino’s future, the Balogun controversy, and what a genuine trust problem could mean for the rest of this World Cup and beyond. Submit your questions below and join me for the Ask Me Anything Q&A on Thursday 9 July, from 4pm to 5pm BST (11am–12pm ET for readers in the US). I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can within the hour.
If you’re having trouble posting, please ensure you’re logged in to a registered account on independent.co.uk. Register or log in, then return to this page to submit your question. Miguel Delaney’s Inside Football newsletter lands in your inbox every Monday and Friday. The football calendar is relentless, and the news cycle never stops—which is why Inside Football exists: to help you make sense of it all. Delivering Friday insights, opinions, and the under-the-radar details I’m seeing as I cover the game around the world, this newsletter is my take on the week’s happenings, a deeper look beneath the surface, and a space to share what I’m hearing from the sport’s beyond-the-spotlight conversations.