Sunday Morning Coffee — July 12, 2026 — The World’s Oldest Profession?
By Roy Berger, Las Vegas, NV
It’s the world’s oldest profession.
Now come on, it’s not that. We are talking about influence peddling. Lobbying for your cause, or a cause. As old as civilization. Action at the Bunny Ranch came much later. In fact, it wasn’t until the late 1800s when author Rudyard Kipling wrote that prostitution was “the oldest profession.”
He was wrong. So were historians who have surmised the world’s oldest could have been hunting and gathering. Maybe midwifery or tool making. Even religion scholars or agriculture. Nah, none of those either.
By definition lobbying is any legal attempt by individuals, groups, or organizations to influence government decisions, legislation or administrative actions. The word ‘legal’ being key and differentiates it from bribery, which actually might be one and the same, as long as you don’t get caught.
The lobbying profession started long before the first legislative statehouse was ever an idea. Don’t tell me Adam didn’t lobby Eve when, following a nice night on the town, it was time to get down to starting a family. We know President Abe lobbied Mary to go to the theater in 1865. He had box seats to see Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater. Mary was indifferent but went because Abe wanted to see the play. That really wasn’t a good idea. Who can forget the full-court lobbying press Ralph Kramden put on his Honeymooners wife Alice for $42 to go fishing with his pal Norton at Fred’s Landing? And Roy lobbies Andi more than he would like to admit.
Present day lobbying happens every day, from the US Capitol to state legislatures to local government to business to the boardroom and the bedroom. In fact, sometimes lobbying actually begins in the bedroom and winds up as legislation.
So, what’s the big fuss about a call our lobbyist-in-chief made last week? Mr. Trump phoned his old Swiss pal Gianni Infantino no doubt to chat and see how his soccer tournament was going.
Infantino is the president of FIFA. You’ve heard that acronym kicked around, literally, a lot over the past month. It’s the Federation International Football Association. Football as in soccer globally, everywhere but here. Headquartered in Zurich, FIFA overseas the sport and its international competitions— the showcase of course being the World Cup, the most anticipated, followed and watched sporting spectacle in the world. This 2026 version concludes next Sunday.
By well-earned reputation FIFA is far from pure — a bar of Ivory Soap it’s not. It’s proven to be the most corrupt arm of any sports governing body since Don King hung up his boxing promoter gloves. Money to and from FIFA officials changes hands more frequently than a casino ATM. Sometimes lobbying takes a backseat to that ‘b’ word.
In fact, in 2015 US and Swiss authorities brought major corruption cases against multiple FIFA officials. The allegations included bribery (there’s that ‘b’ word again), racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering related to paybacks for media rights and marketing contracts. It wiped out most of FIFA’s upper echelon. These days FIFA boasts how they significantly strengthened its compliance and governance systems. Okay, whatever.
Mr. Infantino took over the reins in 2016 when his predecessor Sepp Blatter was shown the door and somehow missed checking into a cell. Since, Infantino has been the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation; FIFA challenging him on ethics charges as well as governance mismanagement. Each time he has channeled his inner Tony Soprano and nothing stuck.
Mr. Trump, with arguably a CV to rival Infantino, has a track record with FIFA. Shortly into his first term, in June 2018, Trump was successful as the lead in lobbying and securing the 2026 World Cup for North America. With some matches played in Canada and Mexico the bulk were and still are in the United States. It’s not only been a huge economic boom for our country but the reviews the United States and our people are getting for the genuine hospitality shown to visitors from around the globe has blown up on social media. That is a good thing.
On July 1 during the USA’s World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Folarin Balogun, a 25-year-old star striker for the US, was given a red card for stepping on an opponent’s ankle during the USA’s 2-0 victory. The referee determined that Balogun did it intentionally with the intent to injure. The red card, not to be mistaken with a Christmas or Valentine’s Day selection from the shelves at Hallmark, means being tossed from the contest and ineligible to play in the next match as well.
That next one was a crucial round of 16 game this past Monday against Belgium. The USA team was outraged about the foul and subsequent penalty; they didn’t see the same intent as the official, and voiced their objection. Most soccer experts agreed with the American position but there was little to nothing that could be done. As credit to the player, Balogun said he too disagreed with the referee but would honor the one game suspension. Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentinian moonlighting as the USA World Cup coach said, “For me, never it’s a red card. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident. It wasn’t intentional.” However, both the U.S. Soccer Federation and FIFA officials said after the match there were no provisions for an appeal. The decision stuck. Or so everyone thought.
Mr. Trump is a friend of Mr. Infantino. In fact, the FIFA boss thinks so much of our president that in addition to getting the World Cup to this side of the ocean, this past December Trump was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize - Football Unites the World, for all he has accomplished to promote peace through diplomacy. Yes, seriously. Critics questioned both the creation of the prize and the selection process. Nobody even knew the award existed before Infantino presented it. Cynics said the line between sports and politics was now blurred. That was before Falorin Balogun, an opponent’s ankle and a phone call.
Sometime over the July 4 weekend Trump did everything a lobbyist should on behalf of his client, which also happens to be his country. He phoned Infantino and reports indicate that he told him that he believed the decision was wrong. The FIFA boss reportedly responded he would look into it. Credit to our lobbyist-in-chief.
On Sunday morning July 5, the day before the USA-Belgium match, FIFA sent the media reeling by reversing their decision and declaring Balogun eligible after all. Nobody really saw this coming. Belgium wasn’t the only country incensed, shouting interference and favoritism which, if true, would be a red card in itself. However, there is an arcane FIFA provision that allows its Disciplinary Committee to exercise discretion when reviewing sanctions. And the committee did just that allowing Balogun to play. Team USA was on a bus on their way to practice in Seattle, without Balogun, when word of the overturned suspension broke.
Nobody, other than Trump and Infantino, will ever know what was said in the conversation. Trump told reporters “All I did, I asked for a review. I can’t tell him what to do.” And to absolutely no surprise, there are now calls by FIFA members to launch another ethics complaint against Infantino for the red card turning into a green light. For Trump it was lobbying by definition. Or was it? The Wall Street Journal reported a week ago that senior Trump administration officials “worked behind the scenes to pressure FIFA to reverse the suspension.” Hmm.
Some will say the integrity of the rule and the game have been compromised but there is precedent for this. In fact, very recent precedence. Just this past November soccer, oops football, superstar Renaldo was given a red card while playing a World Cup qualifier for his Portugal against Ireland. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee determined the foul was for violent conduct and sidelined Renaldo for three games. He missed the next match, a qualifier against Armenia, a side which we can gather eleven ten-year-olds and probably give them a run. The next two games Renaldo had to sit would be the first two of the World Cup competition. Then, for another unexplainable reason, the committee suspended the remaining two matches of the ban, making him eligible to play in Portugal’s opening game of this World Cup.
So, there was Balogun was on the pitch last Monday night against Belgium. He was a non-factor, as was the entire American team. Belgium pasted a 4-1 whupping to end the USA’s World Cup quest. The good news for American soccer is a record 30 million people in the States watched the contest. The bad news for American soccer is a record 30 million people watched the team’s worst effort of the competition. Now general soccer interest in this country relapses back into oblivion for four more years.
However, and fittingly, the final word on this saga belongs to Mr. Trump, who proud of his lobbying effort said before Monday night’s match that both teams will be at full strength the way a contest of this caliber should be. Thus, according to Trump, “If they (Belgium) beat us, then they can be really proud.”
However, there is always a contingency with our chief lobbyist. In his eyes, if FIFA hadn’t overturned the Balogun suspension then, “If they beat us I’ll say it was rigged just like the election in 2020.”
Naturally.
I’m proud that Medjet is sponsoring Sunday Morning Coffee. I spent 20 wonderful years with Medjet in Birmingham, Alabama, and can tell you unequivocally they are the standard-bearer for medical assistance membership programs. A talented staff, who cares about its members, is at the forefront of the company’s success. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, domestic or international, a Medjet membership should be an important part of your travel portfolio before you leave home. Check out the Medjet website at medjet.com or just tap on the Medjet logo and you’ll be able to get a look at Medjet’s services, rules and regulations, pricing, and an overview of the organization. And remember, any opinions expressed in Sunday Morning Coffee content or comments belong to the author and not the sponsor. Safe travels with your Medjet membership! — Roy Berger