What Happened to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)?

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), founded in Paris in 1904, serves as the international self-regulatory governing body for association football, beach soccer, and futsal, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Its membership comprises 211 national associations across six continental confederations.

FIFA faced its most significant crisis in 2015 with widespread corruption allegations, leading to the downfall of then-President Sepp Blatter and numerous officials. This period, often referred to as 'FIFAgate,' prompted an urgent need for governance reforms. In 2016, FIFA members voted in favor of a reform package aimed at improving transparency, introducing term limits, and separating political and commercial matters. Gianni Infantino was elected president in 2016, tasked with leading the organization through this period of change.

Under Infantino's leadership, FIFA has pursued a strategy of expanding its major tournaments. The men's FIFA World Cup was expanded from 32 to 48 teams, with the first edition of this new format scheduled for 2026 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This expansion is projected to generate record revenues, with FIFA anticipating $13.1 billion for the 2023-2026 cycle and over $14 billion for the 2027-2030 cycle. A significant revenue driver in 2025 was the inaugural expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, which generated $2.13 billion, largely from a $1 billion broadcast deal with DAZN.

As of May 2026, FIFA is in the final stages of preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11. The tournament is expected to draw seven million fans to stadiums and six billion viewers worldwide. However, Infantino's tenure has not been without controversy, including criticism over his close ties to political figures, the fast-tracking of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, and attempts to stage symbolic political gestures that have backfired. Despite statutory term limits of 12 years, Infantino is seeking re-election for a fourth term in 2027, arguing that his initial partial term does not count towards the limit, and has secured significant backing from African and Asian confederations. In a recent development, FIFA also struck a broadcast deal with China Media Group (CMG) for the 2026 World Cup, avoiding a potential blackout in a crucial market, though the deal was reportedly for a fifth of FIFA's original target.

Looking ahead, Brazil was confirmed as the host for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in May 2024, marking the first time the tournament will be held in South America. The United States and Mexico have withdrawn their joint bid for 2027 to focus on hosting the 2031 edition. FIFA also plans to significantly increase its number of committees and expert panels, reversing a 2016 reform that had cut them, a move that has drawn scrutiny regarding governance and accountability.