News: Donald Trump, Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Antoine Griezmann

It was a nice idea, but since yesterday at the latest, it's been clear: The Club World Cup should be scrapped. The proof of this was provided by, who else? Donald Trump. As part of the tournament, the US President invited the Juventus Turin team and management to his Oval Office. They posed for a few photos together, handed out jerseys, and went through the typical press conference protocol. Until the journalists present began asking questions about topics unrelated to football. While Trump babbled about possible immigration bans and the war in Iran, the Juve players positioned behind him just stared helplessly around the room. When Trump then also tried to pressure the footballers into making a statement on transgender rights, the scene finally deteriorated into the grotesque. Juve striker and American Timothy Weah later said of the questionable meeting with the quasi-despot: "They told us we had to go there, I had no choice." Right in the middle of it all, by the way: FIFA President and Trump pal Gianni Infantino. Initially, this Club World Cup produced some semi-funny gag material: the empty stands, the Walmarts packed with fans, the ugly Borussia Dortmund jersey. But it's no longer funny. Not even in Qatar did FIFA and the rest of the world indulge in such absurdities. Who would have thought? Football is going to the USA to die.