FIFA Inner Workings and Politics

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Nico Limmat, May 26, 2024.

  1. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    It's nearly a decade since "FIFA Gate" in 2015 but transparency is still severely lacking in many areas under Gianni Infantino. Cleary by design. Here is a thread to look at the inner workings and associated politics of the governing body and, by extension, the confederations and national associations involved.

    FIFA sambas the 2027 World Cup all the way to Brazil:
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com...torial-fifa-sambas-2027-world-cup-way-brazil/

    FIFA’s lawyers abandon ship as move to Miami encounters heavy seas:
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com...bandon-ship-move-miami-encounters-heavy-seas/
     
  2. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #2 Paul Calixte, May 27, 2024
    Last edited: May 27, 2024
    So this is the correct thread for opining, "Infantino will be perfectly happy to let the Intercontinental idea die in the crib like he did the Global Nations League and biennial World Cup, 'cause he's notorious for demanding two things and 'settling' for what he wanted all along", right? :D

    Normally, I'm in lock-and-step with IWF's arguments, but the below is just nitpicky:

     
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  3. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    I have no problem with Brazil getting the 2027 WWC, even if FIFA did try to influence things. It hasn't been hosted in Conmebol before. I'm just glad we got an actual vote at the FIFA Congress. That's no longer a given with the FIFA Council shenanigans.

    In other news...

    FIFA statement on UEC reflects an uneasy balance of power:
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/05/29/fifa-statement-uec-reflects-uneasy-balance-power/
     
  4. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    r0adrunner and Paul Calixte repped this.
  5. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    They changed the statutes at last month's congress so they can move from Zurich, although I have no idea where they would go.
     
  6. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    African officials and member associations warned not to be ‘complicit in the suicide of CAF’:
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com...ssociations-warned-not-complicit-suicide-caf/

    Between this and the poorly planned (expanded) Club World Cup, I'm starting to think Infantino is just incompetent when it comes to the sport's commercial side. At least in situations where the competition doesn't "sell itself". Be it broadcasting rights or sponsorships deals.

    I still don't see the point of the African Football League (i.e. Super League) the way it's been described. Just make the changes you want to do to the CAF Champions League.
     
  7. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    As a Zurich native I wouldn't miss them. Let them move to Miami or Doha.
     
  8. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    FIFA and Konami push the partnership button for two esports World Cups:
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com...sh-partnership-button-two-esports-world-cups/
    Still no FIFA branded game. The (failed) negotiations with EA are yet another example of Infantino's incompetence in the commercial space.
     
  9. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Paul Calixte repped this.
  10. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    r0adrunner repped this.
  11. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
  12. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    First time I see how much the yes-men and women on the FIFA Council are paid:
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com...orcing-fifa-council-meet-become-even-virtual/
     
  13. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not including their per diems, right?
     
  14. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #14 Nico Limmat, May 10, 2025
    Last edited: May 10, 2025
    And they were in good form yesterday. Saying "Yes!" to yet another Infantino expansion. I admit I don't know the Women's game very well, but is there really enough quality there to have a 48-team World Cup? Are we not looking at ridiculous score-lines involving amateur players?

    Well, this one was virtual. Ha!
     
  15. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    People said the same thing about the expansion to 32 teams, but that ended up working well. There were some blowouts, but nothing like USA 13-0 Thailand that happened in the last 24-team World Cup. Two teams that lost 6-0 also won a game, showing that even the weakest part of the field wasn't hopeless. I think it was a net benefit to include more countries as a way to encourage development and investment in the sport.

    Now, I don't like further expansion to 48, as there's such a thing as going too fast, and the 32-team World Cup is the best format that has ever been used.
     
  16. bigsoccertst1

    bigsoccertst1 Member+

    United States
    Sep 22, 2017
    In my eyes, any WC loss by 3 or more goals should be considered a blowout.

    Even if that bar is set to a WC loss by 4 or more goals, then 2023 WWC stands as the queen of all blowouts: 11 smackdowns .

    WWC blowout comparison, before and after tournament expansion:

    1995 WWC, 12 teams, 5 blowouts (1 in knockout phase): 1-6,8-0,7-0,5-0;0-4.
    1999 WWC, 16t, 8b (1 in KO): 7-1,7-1,6-0,7-1,0-5,4-0,7-0;0-5.

    2011 WWC, 16t, 2b: 0-4,4-0.
    2015 WWC, 24t, 6b: 4-0,10-0,0-4,6-0,10-1,0-5.

    2019 WWC, 24t, 5b: 4-0,0-4,0-5,13-0,5-1.
    2023 WWC, 32t, 11b (2 in KO): 6-0,0-4,0-5,5-0,4-0,0-7,4-0,5-0,6-0;1-5,4-0.

    I believe this trend may indicate why many people feel 2031 WWC will be another blowout fest.
     
  17. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
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  18. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
  19. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  20. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
  21. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    https://www.insideworldfootball.com...e-uefas-fifa-council-delegates-congress-walk/
    The names of 8 out of 37 Council members that are not just an extension of Infantino.

    Apparently the next FIFA Congress is in Vancouver. Surprised it's not Mar-a-Lago. :rolleyes:
     
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  22. r0adrunner

    r0adrunner Member+

    Jun 4, 2011
    London, UK
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    The walkout?

    Meanwhile, as usual, FIFA published the President's Congress address and it confirms what I suspected as being the real reason for the walkout: the fact that Infantino and Conmebol stitched-up European members of the FIFA Council with the 64-team WC proposal made at the end of the March meeting.

    "Speaking of firsts, Paraguay took part in the first FIFA World Cup ever, football’s first (FIFA) World Cup ever, in Uruguay in 1930. And Paraguay is going to (co-)host the (FIFA) World Cup for the first time in 2030, an edition that will celebrate the centenary of the (FIFA) World Cup, and, as we’ve seen over the past few days at this Congress, we’re going to have a brilliant time here in Paraguay in 2030. In 2030, alongside Uruguay and Argentina, of course."*

    *Note: Morocco, Portugal and Spain are the hosts of the FIFA World Cup 2030™, with the tournament featuring three centenary celebration matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay (one in each country).


    We can conclude that the Conmebol proposal won't be successful!
     
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  23. themodelcitizen

    Jul 23, 2000
    BMO Field - Sec. 114
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Some of these guys will be doing their best to stay out of the US right now. Even Lord Gianni can't protect them from customs and immigration
     
  24. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Paul Calixte repped this.

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