Upon Review: The 2026 World Cup’s Biggest Legal Stories
Irwin Kishner, co-chair of Herrick's Sports Law Group and co-chair of Herrick's Corporate Department, was quoted in Law360 in an article rounding up the largest legal stories coming out of the 2026 World Cup.
The article discusses FIFA's decision to rescind the suspension of an U.S. player after President Trump urged the organization's president to review the matter. While FIFA officials initially stated that there was no appeal process for the suspension, FIFA then cited Article 27 of its code of discipline which states that FIFA is allow to "fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."
Irwin said Trump's intervention highlights the "tension" between sport governance and state influence.
"For FIFA, which has historically emphasized its autonomy (notwithstanding its own governance challenges), it raises concerns about precedent, even informal political pressure can call into question the neutrality of officiating and disciplinary processes," Irwin said. "At a macro level, it illustrates how global sporting events are increasingly entangled with domestic politics, particularly when hosted in high-profile jurisdictions like the USA."
Read the full article in Law360 here. Access may require a subscription.