NON-PROFIT · Zürich, Switzerland
The Garage / Company file
FIFA
A Swiss non-profit holding a monopoly over the world's greatest game, surviving massive corruption scandals to clear billions.
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Today
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NON-PROFIT
The story / 5 turning points
1904
The modest Parisian administrative birth
FIFA was founded in Paris in 1904 by representatives from seven European nations to establish a unified governing body for the rapidly growing sport of football. For its first several decades, it operated as a highly conservative, strictly amateur international administrative association, operating out of modest offices and struggling to manage logistics for the inaugural 1990 World Cup held in Uruguay.
1974
Joao Havelange and the hyper-commercialization blueprint
The transformation of FIFA from a sleepy Swiss association into a ruthless commercial machine occurred under the presidency of Brazilian official João Havelange. Elected in 1974, Havelange realized that the World Cup could be heavily monetized as a premium global corporate marketing vehicle. He signed historic, multi-decade exclusive partnership deals with massive global corporations like Coca-Cola and Adidas, turning the tournament into a billion-dollar broadcast commodity.
2015
The spectacular Zurich FBI corruption raids
FIFA's structural greed exploded into global headlines in May 2015 during the catastrophic Baur au Lac hotel raids in Zurich. Executed by Swiss authorities acting on sweeping US FBI racketeering indictments, top FIFA executives were arrested for pocketing over $150 million in systemic bribes linked to marketing deals and tournament hosting votes. The massive scandal resulted in the permanent ouster of long-time authoritarian president Sepp Blatter.
2022
The $7.5 billion Qatar World Cup cash bonanza
Under the leadership of Gianni Infantino, FIFA moved past its corruption scandals to record its most wildly lucrative financial cycle in history. The 2022 Qatar World Cup, despite intense geopolitical and human rights controversies, generated a staggering $7.5 billion in corporate revenue over the four-year cycle, driven by massive ticket premiums, high-priced broadcast renewals, and state-backed commercial infrastructure support.
2026
The expanded 48-team North American mega-cycle peak
By mid-2026, FIFA executed its largest tournament expansion in history, launching the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with an expanded 48-team format. The massive North American stadium infrastructure and record-breaking corporate ticket demand propelled FIFA's four-year cycle revenue projections past an unprecedented $11 billion, highlighting the unbreakable commercial power of its global sports monopoly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded FIFA?
FIFA was founded by Robert Guérin (Alongside European football associations).
When was FIFA founded?
FIFA was founded in 1904.
Where was FIFA founded?
FIFA was headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland.
Why was FIFA created?
FIFA was founded in Paris in 1904 by representatives from seven European nations to establish a unified governing body for the rapidly growing sport of football. For its first several decades, it operated as a highly conservative, strictly amateur international administrative association, operating out of modest offices and struggling to manage logistics for the inaugural 1990 World Cup held in Uruguay.
What does FIFA do?
A Swiss non-profit holding a monopoly over the world's greatest game, surviving massive corruption scandals to clear billions. FIFA grew from a modest Parisian association into a multi-billion dollar Swiss monopoly that survived historic FBI raids. Read the FIFA story.
How did FIFA grow?
By mid-2026, FIFA executed its largest tournament expansion in history, launching the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with an expanded 48-team format. The massive North American stadium infrastructure and record-breaking corporate ticket demand propelled FIFA's four-year cycle revenue projections past an unprecedented $11 billion, highlighting the unbreakable commercial power of its global sports monopoly.