Keep pulling the thread on Joey Durso.
The 1994 World Cup in the United States was a major commercial success for FIFA, attracting large corporate sponsors like Coca-Cola and Visa for the first time.
The 1994 World Cup in the USA initiated an exponential growth curve in the commercial value of the tournament, with the current event projected to generate around $12 billion.
Ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup have become a multi-billion dollar revenue stream, estimated to be worth between $2 billion and $3 billion for the current tournament.
Newcastle United football club is owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, an example often cited in discussions of "sportswashing."
German football club Schalke was sponsored by the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom for decades, reflecting the deep economic ties between Germany and Russia.
German football club Schalke suffered a financial loss of approximately €10 million overnight after terminating its sponsorship deal with Gazprom, a factor which contributed to the club's relegation to the second division.
As part of his 2007 contract with LA Galaxy, David Beckham was granted the right to purchase an expansion franchise in Major League Soccer for a reported $25 million, which became Inter Miami.
The English Premier League is becoming a "winner-takes-all" entity, with its superior television revenue negatively impacting the financial health and competitiveness of major leagues in Spain and Italy.
The current FIFA World Cup is the largest ever, with the number of participating teams increasing from 32 to almost 50.
A cynical view holds that FIFA expanded the World Cup primarily to sell more advertisements and tickets, and to gain political favor with smaller member nations.
The European football model allows wealthy teams to purchase the best players, creating a "rich get richer" dynamic that contrasts with the draft systems used in major US sports.
FIFA's long-standing goal to host a World Cup in the United States was driven by the business desire to access the world's largest companies and wealthiest consumer market.