The World Cup is one of the largest sporting events and arguably the most watched, with an audience consistently topping over one billion since 2010. Aside from world-class stars, the event boasts large corporate sponsorships and some of the most technologically and architecturally advanced stadiums. But professional football had not always performed on such a scale, even with the wide international reach of its main governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Once housed in a remote village in Zurich, it was not until after the election of João Havelange to the organization's presidency that FIFA transformed into a powerful global entity, reaching over two hundred member nations and billions in revenue. Luiz Guilherme Burlamaqui's study of the charismatic Brazilian's rise to power against the backdrop of the Cold War reveals the origins of the sport's commercialization and its inevitable utilization in politics.
Burlamaqui's study spans five chapters...
