The World Cup that ended with Leandro Paredes grappling with Gavi will be remembered as good rather than great on the field.
Off it, the picture was far less edifying.
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Perhaps it is too early for a proper assessment, with gold tape still fluttering in the New Jersey sky.
But some judgments can already be made.
Political Interference and FIFA's Priorities
The Balogun Affair could have major consequences.
Bending to political pressure and sweeping aside 64 years of precedent to ensure a particular player could take the stage marks a milestone.
Gianni Infantino had already done the same for Cristiano Ronaldo and gerrymandered Club World Cup qualification criteria to include Lionel Messi.
The prioritization of revenue generation over justice or the good of the game has been a feature of this tournament.
An immediate consequence could be the expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams as Infantino shores up his base.
US and Canadian immigration policy has damaged his claims to champion the global south.
The treatment of Iran was scandalous and sets a worrying precedent.
Ticket prices may be lower at the 2030 World Cup, but the idea that reasonable proportion should be available to regular fans is now gone.
The World Cup is no longer a mass movement but a luxury event. Host cities will feel the financial and social costs in retrospect.
In the US and Canada, street sweeps of the homeless deprived people of ID and medication.
