“Freedom of the press is very important to FIFA,” it said then – a statement that has not aged well.
FIFA could do these things because it dealt with countries seeking soft power, validation, and tourism revenue.
Since 2010, every men's World Cup host needed FIFA more than FIFA needed it.
The US may be the first host country where this balance is reversed.
It doesn't need the money; according to a Saxo Bank report, the anticipated benefit is less than 0.1% of GDP and “is not a meaningful growth driver”.
But FIFA definitely needs the money.
Unlocking US sporting economy revenue streams is Gianni Infantino's best chance to maintain growth that buttresses his power base.
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The 2030 World Cup – in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay – is already forecast to generate higher costs and lower ticket revenue, with shortfalls to be made up from marketing and broadcast rights.
With the World Cup expanded to 48 teams, there is a dwindling pool of countries with the size, means, and infrastructure to host.
FIFA now needs the US far more than the US needs FIFA.
Will FIFA raise its voice if immigration raids take place at stadiums? What if protesters demonstrate near a World Cup venue?
In reality, FIFA has already articulated its worldview.
By parroting “football unites the world” like a malfunctioning pull-string doll, Infantino tacitly expresses that some people are not considered part of the world.
