In this episode of the Um Sir Podcast, Emily's sits down with Keith Macaulay to unpack FIFA’s wild ride. From its "humble" 1904, Old Boys Club beginnings as a small European club to the multi-billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. They dive into the corruption, the backroom deals, and the larger-than-life characters like João Havelange and Sepp Blatter who turned development funds into political currency and World Cup bids into bidding wars. The conversation covers the 2015 DOJ probe, the Garcia Report cover-up, and the human cost of hosting controversies like Qatar 2022.

But hey, for all the drama, it’s still the beautiful game, bringing the world together, one goal at a time.

Listen: Pitch to Puget Sound Podcast

Local Playbook: Game on Everett

Puget Sound Deets: Seattle FWC

Documentaries & Series

• FIFA Uncovered (Netflix) – 3-part docuseries on FIFA’s corruption
• El Presidente (Prime Video) – Season 2 covers João Havelange’s rise and reign
• ESPN’s Qatar World Cup investigation (featuring Jeremy Schaap)
• Copa 90’s Argentina series – Deep dive into the nation’s football passion

News & Investigative Reports:

• The Guardian: 6,500+ migrant worker deaths in Qatar (2010–2020) – Wage theft, passport confiscation, and extreme heat conditions.
• U.S. DOJ 2015 FIFA Corruption Case – Press releases and findings
• The Garcia Report – FIFA’s redacted summary (full report was suppressed)

Historical Events

• 1966 World Cup controversy – Suspected bias against Brazil
• 1974 Chile-USSR playoff – Played in a stadium used as a torture camp under Pinochet
• 2010 Haiti earthquake – FIFA emergency funds stolen by Jack Warner
• 2018/2022 World Cup bidding scandals – Russia and Qatar’s bribery schemes
• 2034 World Cup bid – Saudi Arabia’s controversial selection

"Official" & Reference

• FIFA’s official website – Current sponsors, tournaments, and governance
• UEFA – European football’s governing body
• CONCACAF – North/Central America & Caribbean federation
• CONMEBOL – South American football confederation
• U.S. Soccer Federation – Governance and team info