Analysis: This article interprets verified events and identifies InFIFAntiNo’s assessment.

1904–1930: a federation creates a world tournament

FIFA was founded in Paris on 21 May 1904 by representatives of seven European associations. Its early purpose was coordination: common rules, international matches and a structure that could reach beyond bilateral arrangements.

In 1928, the FIFA Congress approved the creation of a world championship. Thirteen teams played the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. The tournament gave FIFA a recurring global event around which sporting authority and public attention could grow.

1974–1998: expansion and commercial scale

Under João Havelange, elected in 1974, FIFA expanded competitions, development activity and commercial partnerships. The men's World Cup grew from 16 teams in 1978 to 32 in 1998. FIFA also launched the Women's World Cup in 1991.

That growth widened participation and resources. It also made the organisation's decisions more valuable to broadcasters, sponsors, governments and national associations — and therefore more important to scrutinise.

2016–2026: reform, more competitions and more power

After the 2015 crisis, FIFA adopted statutes introducing term limits, clearer separation of strategic and management functions, eligibility checks and other governance changes. Gianni Infantino was elected president in February 2016.

The men's World Cup expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches for 2026. FIFA's 2023–2027 objectives also added a 32-team Club World Cup and set a revenue target of at least USD 11 billion. Inclusion, development and global reach are real gains; the scale of the organisation makes transparent process and independent oversight more necessary, not less.

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