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/
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? Normally, I'm in lock-and-step with IWF's arguments, but the below is just nitpicky:
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/
FIFA faces losing control of transfer markets as lawyer crisis reaches tipping point; https://www.insideworldfootball.com...-markets-lawyer-crisis-reaches-tipping-point/
They changed the statutes at last month's congress so they can move from Zurich, although I have no idea where they would go.
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.
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.
So the votes to award the 2030 and 2034 WCs will be held as part of a combined ballot. https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/267fbfe0edfe0f3b/original/Circular-1898_Upcoming-FIFA-Congresses.pdf It'll be interesting to see the revised revenue forecast for the 2023-26 4-year cycle; the USD$11bn approved last year was based on the 2026 WC format featuring 80 games instead of 104 and it didn't include the expanded Club WC.
Looks like Infantino will get to keep “his man” at CAF: https://www.reuters.com/sports/socc...-re-election-run-african-football-2024-10-25/
Promotion for Kevin Lamour who moves from UEFA Deputy General Secretary to FIFA Chief Operating Officer. https://inside.fifa.com/about-fifa/...-lamour-joins-fifa-as-chief-operating-officer
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/
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!
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.
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.
Delegates walk out of Fifa congress after Infantino arrives late from Trump trip: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/15/gianni-infantino-late-fifa-congress A timely reminder to Infantino that he serves the sport of football and is not a political “world leader”.
Better late than never, or better never than late? Infantino’s tour de force: https://www.insideworldfootball.com...r-better-never-late-infantinos-tour-de-force/
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.
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!
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
Champions League final the calm before storm as Uefa and Fifa battle rolls on: https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...before-storm-as-uefa-and-fifa-battle-rolls-on
Fifa opens office in Trump Tower, deepening ties with US president: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/08/fifa-trump-tower-office-new-york-city-world-cup Really, two offices in the US?