Introduction

The FIFA World Cup is one of the world's biggest mega-events and, on this basis alone, is worthy of analysis. Radio and television coverage may initially have captured the attention of football fans and non-fans alike, but the digital era has propelled the competition to a position of global prominence. A crucial, though often ignored, part of World Cup tournaments is how they are designed as competitions. FIFA is not a business, and it is reliant on irregular revenue streams. Financial decisions are part of planning and organisational processes that extend to a multitude of issues that require good management and leadership. The notion of event returns on investment are something that host nations pay attention to and are typically labelled as being a tournament legacy. For instance, one continental association's winter is another's summer; and playing qualifying matches in Africa or Asia is a very different proposition to staging them in Europe.