Corporate governance and administration
As laid out in the President’s Vision 2020-2023, FIFA has a responsibility to its members to grow revenues sustainably so that they can be reinvested back into football development across the world. In 2021, a number of milestones were reached on the road to realising that goal.
Growing revenues sustainably
FIFA has traditionally depended on the quadrennial men’s FIFA World Cup for the bulk of its revenue and, while this still provides a solid foundation, the organisation needs to generate new, sustainable sources of income to ensure that it can continue to invest in football around the world. In 2021, great strides were taken towards achieving that goal.
Ensuring the prime commercialisation of our new competition
FIFA had continued success with securing partnerships for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Despite the economic challenges caused by the global pandemic, FIFA sold out all available global partnerships for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, 12 months out from the tournament kick-off.
Through the Future of Football consultation process, it also continued with its commitment to explore the best possible ways to expand and enhance development and commercialisation opportunities for all levels of men’s, women’s and youth football – including assessing the feasibility of reforms to the International Match Calendars.
Growing the FIFA brand globally
FIFA created the Fan Experience Panel, a group of 25 football fans from around the world that will be continuously consulted to help enhance the football experience on and off the pitch leading up to major tournaments and events. The Fan Experience Panel members come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, enabling them to bring diverse experiences, views and ideas to FIFA. It goes without saying that they all share FIFA’s passion for the game and recognise the vital role that technology can play in the future of football.
Exploring growth areas
FIFA has overhauled the commercial structure for the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 and a number of other competitions.
For the first time, brands will be able to take up dedicated partnerships around women’s football and esports/gaming, in addition to men’s football. FIFA believes this will provide companies around the world with more tailored opportunities to partner with the sport of football, leverage the FIFA brand and support its competitions.
This builds on FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategy and marks another step in FIFA’s commitment to make football more equitable and accessible for women and girls. Partners in this new area will be able to directly impact and support the growth and development of the women’s game.
Shortly after launching the new structure, FIFA confirmed long-standing partner Visa as the first global FIFA Women’s Football Partner, highlighting the commitment of both parties to growing the women’s game and making football truly global.
“For the first time, brands will be able to take up dedicated partnerships around women’s football and esports/gaming, in addition to men’s football.”
Exploring digital opportunities
To bring the organisation even closer to football fans globally, FIFA.com underwent a revamp in 2021, and in 2022, FIFA will launch its own dedicated streaming service to provide new and varied platforms for a captive global audience to consume FIFA content.
FIFA aims to combine the global appeal of football and the new opportunities that digital technology offers. This can make football even more popular, make the sport yet more democratic and provide more inclusivity, as FIFA member associations will also have an opportunity to be part of FIFA’s new digital venture.
Increasing efficiency
In line with the FIFA Statutes, it is imperative that today’s FIFA continues its work to become more efficient and effective to better serve the needs of its 211 member associations, as well as of the players, clubs and fans and indeed, the organisation itself.
Streamlining and digitising
Financial reporting in all areas, including in relation to FIFA Forward funding and the COVID-19 Relief Fund, continues to be transparent and in line with the values of fair play that define both our sport and our approach to governance.
Based on key metrics that underpin both programmes, FIFA Forward and the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan are constantly being assessed, while FIFA’s financial situation is continuously being evaluated via the FIFA Financial Asset Management Regulations, which continue to shape the organisation’s ability to react to unexpected events.