“I love the fact that I cannot think of another administration where there has been more soccer emanating from the White House and from the Oval Office,” he said on the “Ryen Russillo Show” episode that was posted Thursday. “And regardless of your political affiliation here, having the president of the United States be invested in a World Cup, that’s a good thing. All right? Because again, it’s happening on his watch. He understands soft power, probably better than anybody. I think he’s going to go down as the soccer president. But it behooves us, and he recognizes that it’s a reflection on him, to make sure that this goes well.”
The former U.S. team standout and 1994 World Cup star is a Trump supporter who has had the president’s ear for the global tournament. But Lalas got pushback for his praise of him.
“I legit watch in Telemundo because of shit like this,” one person wrote on X, referring to the Spanish-language broadcaster.
“He obviously hit too many headers. What a crazy thing to believe,” another chimed in.
“Alexi Lalas and his absolutely awful takes on just about everything is what I’m least looking forward to during the World Cup,” someone else commented.
Trump’s apparently chummy relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also made headlines. In December, Infantino awarded him the first-ever “FIFA Peace Prize” that was seen as a cringey suck-up gesture.
In words that have not aged well, Infantino said the award was “in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world.”
The co-host U.S. team begins play against Paraguay on Friday.