Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, this book offers expert insight into the business and management of the FIFA World Cup, arguably the biggest sporting event in the world.

The book takes the reader from the initial stages of bidding and hosting decisions, through the planning, organisation, and delivery phases, to assessment of the longer-term legacies of the competition. It introduces the global context in which the World Cup takes place, surveying the history and evolution of the tournament and the geopolitical background against which bidding and hosting decisions are made. It examines all the key issues and debates which surround the tournament, from governance and corruption to security and the media, and looks closely at the technical processes that create the event, from planning and finance to marketing and fan engagement. Analysis of the Women’s World Cup is embedded in every chapter, and the book also considers the significance of World Cup tournaments at age-group level. This edition also includes new chapters on technology, officials, and on the forthcoming tournaments in Canada, Mexico, and the US in 2026, and Brazil in 2027.

No sport business or management course is complete without some discussion of the FIFA World Cup, so this book is essential reading for any student, researcher or sport business professional looking to deepen their understanding of the global sport industry.