The 75th Congress of FIFA was held recently in Asuncion, highlighting the growing importance of football worldwide. It is indeed the first time that this FIFA legislative gathering has taken place in Paraguay, and this event testifies to a desire to diversify places and votes within an organization which has often been at the center of controversies.
At the heart of this meeting, the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, spoke of the major challenges of the new 2025 World Cup format, scheduled to start on June 14 in Miami. This tournament aims to be a springboard to redefine the dynamics of world football, with an endowment of $ 1 billion intended for 32 participating clubs, accompanied by a solidarity fund of $ 250 million for clubs which will not take part in the competition.
This initiative raises several interesting questions concerning the future of professional football. First of all, what real impact does this redistribution of resources have less privileged clubs? The Solidarity Fund could encourage investments in infrastructure and training, essential for the development of football at all levels. However, such an approach also arouses questions about the balance between the richest clubs and those evolving in less favored contexts.
Then, it is essential to look at the broader economic impact of this event. FIFA plans to achieve a record turnover of $ 13 billion for the 2023-2026 cycle, and the proposed economic model seems promising. However, there is reason to wonder how such a sum will be redistributed throughout the world of football, and if it could really cause sustainable growth for sport, or if it will mainly result in profits for a small number of elite clubs.
In addition, a reflection is essential on the social implications of these developments. Large sporting events are often perceived as opportunities for gathering and national pride, but they can also exacerbate tensions around economic and social inequalities. How to reconcile the craze for these global shows with challenges such as the accessibility of football for young people from modest environments or the integration of populations from various cultural horizons?
In short, the FIFA Congress in Asuncion and the initiatives it has revealed represent an important opportunity to reassess FIFA priorities. The intentions displayed are laudable, but the effectiveness of the measures taken to ensure balanced and equitable development of world football remains to be demonstrated.
Some might argue that FIFA is imperative that FIFA integrates follow-up mechanisms to ensure that the benefits of this new momentum are fairly distributed and that they really enrich the football landscape beyond economic borders. This will require an open commitment to dialogue, compromises and innovation, in order to guarantee that football remains a sport accessible and exciting for all.
Time will tell us if the promises made during this congress will result in positive and lasting actions or if they will remain a dead letter, leaving a feeling of dissatisfaction among the actors of football around the world.