Ten years ago, walked into a storm — elected to lead after its biggest corruption scandal. His promise was bold: put football back at the center of FIFA.
A decade later, the numbers tell a dramatic comeback story — bigger tournaments, billions invested, and a rebuilt global game.
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Expansion: Football Goes Bigger Than Ever
FIFA didn’t just grow — it exploded.
- World Cup expands to 48 teams from 2026, opening the door for more nations to dream big.
➤ Demand is insane: 500 million ticket requests already logged. - Club World Cup (32 teams, 2025) drew 2.5 million fans in stadiums and 2.7 billion viewers worldwide.
- Women’s World Cup jumped to 32 teams in 2023 and will hit 48 teams by 2031.
➤ Qualifying nations rose from 134 (2015) to 179 (2027). - Youth tournaments now run annually, with the U17 men’s event expanded to 48 teams.
According to , this shift gives every nation a real chance:
“Every country deserves a chance.”
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Investment: $5 Billion Pumped Into the Game
Through the FIFA Forward program, over $5 billion has been reinvested into football since 2016 — seven times more than before.
That money has built:
- New pitches and training centers
- Support for struggling national teams
- Travel, equipment, and competition funding
New projects include:
- 75 FIFA Talent Academies planned by 2027
- A free global online coaching platform
- 1,000 mini-pitches via the FIFA Arenas project
- Football for Schools now active in 150+ countries
Reform: From Scandal to Structure
FIFA’s reputation reboot came through deep reform:
- Financial transparency restored
- $1.5 billion COVID-19 relief fund saved struggling federations
- New FIFA Clearing House paid out $500m+ in youth training rewards
- Over 7,000 clubs compensated for player development
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Tech Takes the Whistle
Fairness got a digital upgrade:
- VAR now used in 200+ competitions across 70+ countries
- Semi-automated offside improves speed and accuracy
- Football Video Support brings replay tech to poorer leagues
⚽ The Verdict
From scandal to stability, from elitism to expansion — FIFA’s last decade has reshaped world football.
Bigger tournaments. Broader access. Stronger systems.
What began as a rescue mission has turned into a global rebuild — and football has never looked more widespread, or more watched.
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