With a total of 104 matches, synonymous with a cascade of dollars, the 2026 World Cup represents the triumph of the expansionist ambition of the president of FIFA (International Football Federation), Gianni Infantino, but geopolitics and legal resources threaten to negatively impact his bid for re-election.
After reaching the helm of world football in 2016 and being re-elected without opposition in 2019 and 2023, the Italian-Swiss leader scheduled a meeting of delegates from FIFA’s 211 member federations for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, to extend his mandate.
During this period, the decisive test for each administration occurs: the men’s World Cup, historically FIFA’s biggest source of revenue, which in this edition goes from 32 to 48 teams and whose organization will be divided for the first time between three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico, from June 11th to July 19th.
This gigantism leads to the signature of Infantino, 56 years old, interested in expanding FIFA competitions, even imposing the first Club World Cup with 32 teams last summer in the northern hemisphere.
Thus, by increasing revenue from box office, broadcasting rights and sponsorships, he promised to increase the entity’s revenue by 72% compared to the previous cycle.
From an electoral point of view, it won the favor of 16 additional federations present in the final phase of the tournament, with the possibility that the 2030 World Cup will feature 64 teams — a South American proposal that FIFA has not publicly rejected.
Furthermore, Infantino is about to distribute even more money to the football planet. FIFA’s ability to redistribute resources is, by far, the most important aspect for any president of the entity.
Each federation has the right to vote and receives the same resources, regardless of its size, which represents a significant increase for large countries, but above all an indispensable source of financing for the majority of voters.
Praise and “eccentric governance”
If every World Cup requires maintaining good relations with the host country, Infantino made a particularly notable effort to cultivate a close relationship with United States President Donald Trump, from praising his domestic policy to awarding a FIFA Peace Prize created especially for the occasion.
Even critics of the Italian-Swiss leader considered this strategy rational, since the smooth running of the tournament in terms of security, reception of delegations and fans depends on the unpredictable American leader.
But with what result? After being attacked at the end of February by the United States and Israel, Iran needed to transfer its training base to Mexico and turned to FIFA, without receiving a response so far, so that Washington could guarantee multiple entry visas to its players for the three matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
“FIFA’s governance is absolutely eccentric: everyone expects Gianni to call Trump. His proximity should have allowed faster results, but everything is taking too long,” said a source close to the football institutions.
Even the easing, in mid-May, by Washington, of the requirement for deposits for visa applications — which can reach US$15,000 (R$75,000) for citizens of 50 countries — comes “too late for the affected fans”, laments the same source.
In the judicial shadow
The ticket pricing policy adopted by FIFA varies according to supply and demand and does not provide guarantees regarding the location of seats.
But it promises to almost triple the revenue obtained from ticket sales, at the cost of “opaque and unfair” practices, according to what the FSE (Football Supporters Europe) organization has been denouncing for months.
In March, the FSE filed a complaint with the European Commission for “abuse of dominant position and monopoly”, becoming the second case in European justice to threaten FIFA, following the action initiated in 2024 by European leagues and the FIFPro union over the international calendar.
The lawsuits are not limited to Europe, as the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have just opened an investigation into “ticket sales practices”, also inviting residents of both states to report possible losses.
“FIFA repeated to us that it was adapting to the reality of the American market. If it is proven that it is not even in compliance with local legislation, this would represent a clear contradiction,” said Ronan Evain, executive director of the FSE.
