As the culmination of the 2026 World Cup approaches, set to conclude on Sunday, it becomes relevant to examine the deeper aspects underlying all this joy, excitement, and potential facade. The article explores how something more sinister has always existed, hidden behind the gold rush and treasures of top-level football.
Before 1974, the World Cup trophy was called the Jules Rimet Cup. The current version of the trophy appeared after the 1970 tournament. In the 1970s, João Havelange led FIFA, defeating Briton Stanley Rous for the presidency. As a former volleyball player and Brazilian lawyer-businessman, he seemed suitable for implementing progressive reforms. However, instead, the organization turned into his personal fiefdom, and he managed it like an autocratic dictatorship, recognizing the marketing potential of football.
He transformed FIFA from an archaic European club into a multi-billion dollar global sports empire. Nevertheless, this unprecedented commercial and political expansion laid the foundation for systemic, institutionalized corruption that defined his tenure and deeply stained the organization.
In 1974, Havelange challenged traditional European dominance by attracting smaller nations in Africa and Asia, promising them increased representation in the World Cups, development programs, and funding. Recognizing the enormous business potential of football, Havelange (with the support of his right-hand man Sepp Blatter) began large-scale sponsorship and television broadcasting deals with corporate giants such as Coca-Cola and Adidas.
To maintain complete control, Havelange used FIFA's new wealth to finance lavish trips, allowances, and campaigns for delegates who supported his power. At the heart of the corruption was a major bribery scandal involving International Sport and Leisure (ISL), a sports marketing firm that secured lucrative rights for World Cup broadcasting and marketing. Havelange, along with his son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira, accepted millions in illegal kickbacks in exchange for providing contracts.
The situation continued under his predecessor, Sepp Blatter. This was not an isolated deviation or a separate operation; it was standard operating procedure. Later, internal documents revealed that FIFA leadership was aware of bribe payments directed to its top executives. Those who were exposed were simply 'removed.'
Journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, who collaborated with renowned journalist Anas Aremeyah, was brutally shot in Accra, Ghana. His murder occurred shortly after he helped expose widespread bribery and corruption at the highest levels of FIFA and African football, which led to a lifetime ban for former FIFA chief Kwesi Nyantakyi.
South Africa's involvement in the FIFA corruption scandal is linked to a $10 million payment (equivalent to 163 million Rand today), allegedly used as a bribe to secure the hosting of the 2010 World Cup. US authorities and their investigations found that this money was supposedly diverted from World Cup funds through FIFA to former Caribbean football boss Jack Warner.
The South African government and host cities spent about 30 billion Rand ($3.9 billion USD) on building five new stadiums (which are now white elephants, such as the Moses Mabhida Stadium) and modernizing five existing ones across the country.
The rot peaked when US federal prosecutors unveiled a massive 161-page indictment exposing systemic, long-term bribery, fraud, and money laundering within the world's governing body of football. The investigation showed that high-ranking FIFA officials accepted over $150 million in bribes over a 24-year period. These bribes were exchanged for media rights, marketing deals, sponsorships, and World Cup host votes. All of this was taxpayer money, both globally and in South Africa.
FIFA officials and continental confederations requested and received over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks from sports marketing executives related to profitable media and marketing rights for various football tournaments and matches. These officials also allegedly received bribes and kickbacks concerning the selection of South Africa as the host country for the 2010 World Cup, the 2011 FIFA presidential elections, and the sponsorship of Brazil's national football federation by a major American sports company.
The accusation is shocking. For instance, FIFA officials received $10 million in exchange for their votes for South Africa as the 2010 World Cup host, but these bribe funds ultimately came from FIFA resources that could otherwise have gone to South Africa to support the World Cup there.
After the 2010 World Cup, a dedicated World Cup legacy development fund was created. In 2012, FIFA transferred $100 million (about 450 million Rand at the time) to this fund. The fund was intended to support grassroots football development, educational, and medical programs using sport. However, the FIFA 2010 legacy fund of 450 million Rand was prematurely dissolved in 2021 after the funds were largely depleted and torn apart amid serious allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption. Although some money went towards building SA Safa House, millions were absorbed by thieves while managing SAFA under Jordan, and no one was held accountable.
Then we witnessed the mass shooting related to the Mbombela stadium at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which led to the killing of Jimmy Molala. Molala, speaker of the local municipality of Mbombela, was shot by masked armed men in his home in Nelspruit in January 2009. He was killed shortly before he could bring criminal charges regarding large-scale tender fraud and corruption amounting to 1.2 billion Rand during the stadium construction. Former Vice President David Mabusa, implicated in this case, went unaddressed, and this episode is largely forgotten in South African history.
The United States' path to hosting the 2026 World Cup was fundamentally shaped by the consequences of all these massive corruption investigations. Although the current 2026 tournament faces new political controversies, the history of the US bid for 2026 is directly linked to the exposure of the old guard of FIFA.
Notably, New York and New Jersey district attorneys have recently begun active investigations into FIFA on charges of 'artificial price inflation' and 'deceiving fans' through predatory dynamic pricing and hidden seat allocation. The FBI, just yesterday, announced the opening of an investigation into the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on charges of money laundering and fraud worth about $300 million in the United States.
The investigation focuses on approximately $300 million in international sponsorship and commercial revenue. Federal investigators are examining third-party operations, especially transactions conducted through US banks. It is cynical and shocking to see how Egypt was clearly denied a quarter-final spot in its thrilling match against Argentina last week, when one of the tournament's goals by Zico was disallowed by a biased and unfair referee.
Ultimately, FIFA possesses a gold mine that it produces every four years, and it can tell the world that it can be as corrupt as it wants, and people will still watch and love the World Cup. It knows that great play has been captured by itself, and it knows that people will pay exorbitant prices to watch the greatest show on Earth, and like a corrupt Roman emperor feeding the people bread and circuses, it will continue until it eventually collapses.
The Junior Springboks team is preparing for the U20 Rugby World Cup final against France in Tbilisi on Saturday evening. In addition to striving to win a second consecutive title, the players also plan to pay tribute to the late former South African U18 national player, Lukobo Makwedini.
The South Africans will wear black ribbons during the decisive match as a sign of respect for Makwedini. He passed away on July 10th after training with his French club AS Béziers Hérault. This emotional gesture comes amid the current champions' attempt to retain their trophy won last year.
Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele emphasized that despite the mourning, the team's focus remains on the upcoming competition. He stated: 'We are well prepared for the final match, and we are all happy to represent South Africa in the final.'
Three changes were made to the Junior Boks squad for the final in Tbilisi. One player, who plays as a hooker and is participating in the U20 World Cup for the second time, noted that the scale of the event has not been a distraction for him. He added: 'Essentially, it's a new group, and our focus is only on the game and nothing else. Our goal is to be ready to face a very strong French team that has shown its abilities by reaching the final.'
Midfielder Yaqeen Ahmed believes that South Africa's success in the tournament is due not only to talent but also to the culture formed within the team. He highly praised the work of the coaching and medical staff, noting that they create a favorable environment for all players. Ahmed stressed that the readiness of every team member to contribute, regardless of whether they are in the main squad, has been a defining characteristic of the Junior Boks campaign.
He explained that daily joint work is a team effort: those not playing in the squad help the coaches prepare the main players. The team constantly motivates and improves in every session, whether it is a training or technical meeting. Ahmed concluded: 'We have 80 minutes left in this campaign, and we will give it our absolute best. Personally, I am very grateful to be part of this group representing our country and the Junior Boks.'
The final is scheduled for Saturday at 18:30 South African time, and South Africa aims to win its second consecutive U20 Rugby World Cup title.
Captain Walsha Devi Lek believes that the team's attacking power can be a serious weapon against the Springboks, but this is only possible if the team can withstand the physical pressure expected from the two-time world champions in the match scheduled for Saturday at Kings Park.
Although it is widely predicted that the impressive South African squad will dominate the forward battle, Lek insists that Walsha demonstrated enough during his tour to challenge the Springboks in one key area.
Ahead of the upcoming confrontation, Lek stated: 'I believe our driving maul was excellent. We scored four touchdowns in two matches thanks to it, and we have already hit the Boks with its help. First, however, it is important to get into dangerous areas, their 22-meter zone, and I think our driving maul can cause them problems.'
This confidence comes despite the fact that Walsha is preparing for possibly the toughest challenge in world rugby by facing the Springboks, a team known for its strength both in scrums and collisions. Walsha's representatives admit that they are facing 'the most physical team in the world, so it is a great opportunity to test ourselves.'
Lek noted that they are aware of what to expect from the opponent: 'We know what they will bring. They are a dominant team; they will try to dominate the set-piece and create opportunities from transition. It is important for us to stay focused on ourselves. We still have a lot to prove and fix on this tour, so it's about executing our game.'
The visiting team arrived in Durban aiming to recover the loss suffered last week against Argentina, a performance that, according to Lek, was significantly below the required physical level for a test match. He emphasized: 'For us, physicality will be a huge change. I said after the match in San Juan that we were not physically strong enough and did not win those physical confrontations. This weekend we must do it. If we do not meet them physically, the situation could get out of control.'
Much of Walsha's hope for competition against the Springboks will depend on the performance of their forwards. Lek believes that the dominant squad will also reduce the load on the young defensive line. He added: 'I think the best thing we can do is dominate as a unit and give our flyhalf the ball from the front. It is much easier to play No. 10 when your team is moving forward than when it is moving backward. If we can provide a stable set-piece, break the gain line, and score meters with the ball in hand, it will be much easier for him to control the game.'
Lek is not unfamiliar with the unique challenge of the tour in South Africa, as he participated in the Walsha series in 2022, which included a famous victory in Bloemfontein. He shared his impressions: 'It is an incredible place to play rugby. You play this game to test yourself against the best, and that is exactly what we are going to do. The atmosphere is always incredible, and it is a challenge that all players look forward to.'
Nevertheless, admiration alone will not be enough for Walsha. To finish a difficult tour on a high note, Lek understands that his team first needs to match the Springboks physically before using the very weapon they believe can change the course of the competition—the attacking maul, which has become one of their most potent attacking threats.
