June 11, 2026
The World Cup is a global spectacle, but the organization behind it answers to almost no one. On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer sits down with Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper to examine FIFA's extraordinary power and why repeated scandals have done little to change how it operates.
Kuper argues that FIFA's problems are not new. From Mussolini's Italy to Putin's Russia, the organization has long been comfortable working with strongmen and prioritizing profit over principles. This year's tournament, he says, is no exception. With ticket prices reaching unprecedented levels and FIFA projecting record revenues, the organization has become more powerful than ever.
Why has nobody found a way to reform FIFA? And what does the organization's enduring influence reveal about power in global sports? Kuper argues the answer lies in one simple fact: the World Cup is too valuable for countries, teams, and fans to walk away from.
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