How posters, radio, and political propaganda laid the groundwork for the most commercially powerful sporting event in history, decades before the business existed
Really enjoyed this. I’ve always found it fascinating how geography heavily shaped the early World Cups, several European nations didn’t even attend Uruguay 1930 because the boat journey was considered too long and expensive.
What fascinates me the most is that it looks so far in time — when we only had boat journeys — and yet everything changed so fast, not only in terms of technology but also, as you mentioned, geography shaping distances and travel, and also politics, with new countries joining FIFA and the global landscape shifting throughout the years.
This point — “What Era 1 built was the emotional infrastructure that made everything else possible. The storytelling gave the World Cup a depth of meaning that no commercial operation could have manufactured from scratch.” In a world that’s in a rush for everything, we forget that to build a monument, you need foundations. Thanks for the reminder. 🙌🏽
Absolutely! It really speaks to how we view legacy, collective participation, and the ability to dream. It's actually quite concerning that we might lose that magic given the current shifts in the business landscape.
Great article! Congratulations on this first part of the series.
It is fascinating to see how FIFA’s history reflects not only the evolution of football, but also broader geographical, political, and economic dynamics.
Without a doubt, the reality of today is completely different from how it all began.
What was once far from being a commercial structure has now become a global platform where sport, and football in particular through FIFA, operates as an economic and geopolitical instrument. States increasingly use football (sport) in different ways within their government strategies and public policies, whether for international positioning, soft power, investment, diplomacy, or national identity.
Looking forward to reading the next parts of the series.
Absolutely true! It's amazing to see how, in less than 100 years, FIFA's history and the World Cup — as the most representative product of its growth — are so deeply connected with the politics and economics of the 20th century. The connection between the WC and states is fascinating: from Uruguay to Qatar, there has been an apparatus that, instead of changing, adapted and made itself more sophisticated.
"Afer France 1938, again with European political tension as backdrop, the tournament simply stopped, due to World War II cancelling the 1942 and 1946 editions, and for eight years the World Cup didn’t exist"
Yes, I made that exact reflection when I wrote the original piece! Of course it can land wrong or lead to misunderstandings,but I don't think that opens the floor to debate about checking before posting lol.
If we're being very picky, and following the tone of the original piece, years with no World Cup planned aren't really "years with no World Cup" — so it would only be two years. That makes both of us wrong 😂
You could have planned the World Cup on an odd year. They did it with Copa América to adjust to a calendar that would coincidence with the Euro. In either case we're making progress here: you are writing something that is valuable and a simple gaffe tarnish it. It is important to write about the economics of football, about the politics and geopolitics of football and place things in context, but a voice doing that shouldn't compromise the perception of their expertise due to easily fixable arithmetic errors. If I were in your shoes, I would gladly change the statement in the essay to whichever you prefer as long as it is correct and erase this whole conversation from the comments section. Just saying.
I draw your attention to this detail bc is one of those small things that affects the quality of what you're trying to communicate. Your text deserves thorough editing and the subject of your writing allows the time for it. Keep it going though: it's fascinating and quite necessary.
Hi. The 8-year figure refers specifically to the span of the two cancelled four-year cycles (1942 and 1946), not the total gap between tournaments.
Something I want to mention, because I really value this community: While I welcome different perspectives, I also value kindness. Substack is a great platform because of mutual respect, and I expect the interactions in this community to maintain a polite and constructive tone.
I don't understand the reference to politeness and kindness. You made an incorrect statement mathematically speaking. I pointed it out in the hope to improve the overall quality of your essay as a way to support what you're trying to communicate: 1950 - 1938 = 12.
Really enjoyed this. I’ve always found it fascinating how geography heavily shaped the early World Cups, several European nations didn’t even attend Uruguay 1930 because the boat journey was considered too long and expensive.
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!
What fascinates me the most is that it looks so far in time — when we only had boat journeys — and yet everything changed so fast, not only in terms of technology but also, as you mentioned, geography shaping distances and travel, and also politics, with new countries joining FIFA and the global landscape shifting throughout the years.
This point — “What Era 1 built was the emotional infrastructure that made everything else possible. The storytelling gave the World Cup a depth of meaning that no commercial operation could have manufactured from scratch.” In a world that’s in a rush for everything, we forget that to build a monument, you need foundations. Thanks for the reminder. 🙌🏽
Absolutely! Those early foundations are still the backbone of this entire spectacular event.
Wow, love this. The mithology and storytelling of the World Cup it's one of the strongests asset of humanity I risk. Nowadays at least.
Absolutely! It really speaks to how we view legacy, collective participation, and the ability to dream. It's actually quite concerning that we might lose that magic given the current shifts in the business landscape.
This is such a great piece
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Great article! Congratulations on this first part of the series.
It is fascinating to see how FIFA’s history reflects not only the evolution of football, but also broader geographical, political, and economic dynamics.
Without a doubt, the reality of today is completely different from how it all began.
What was once far from being a commercial structure has now become a global platform where sport, and football in particular through FIFA, operates as an economic and geopolitical instrument. States increasingly use football (sport) in different ways within their government strategies and public policies, whether for international positioning, soft power, investment, diplomacy, or national identity.
Looking forward to reading the next parts of the series.
Te felicito!🙏🏻
Absolutely true! It's amazing to see how, in less than 100 years, FIFA's history and the World Cup — as the most representative product of its growth — are so deeply connected with the politics and economics of the 20th century. The connection between the WC and states is fascinating: from Uruguay to Qatar, there has been an apparatus that, instead of changing, adapted and made itself more sophisticated.
Muchas gracias 🙌
"Afer France 1938, again with European political tension as backdrop, the tournament simply stopped, due to World War II cancelling the 1942 and 1946 editions, and for eight years the World Cup didn’t exist"
Ah... 12 years.
I'm not sure 12-years is strictly true within the context.
The World Cup didn't disappear until it was clear WW2 was preventing it - which was obviously later than 1938.
I don't think it's unreasonable to say for 8 years it didn't exist - span of two 4-year cycles.
Yes, I made that exact reflection when I wrote the original piece! Of course it can land wrong or lead to misunderstandings,but I don't think that opens the floor to debate about checking before posting lol.
This is the list of years with no World Cup:
1. 1938 -1939
2. 1939 -1940
3. 1940 - 1941
4. 1041 - 1942
5. 1942 - 1943
6. 1943 - 1944
7. 1944 - 1945
8. 1945 - 1946
9. 1946 - 1947
10. 1947 - 1948
11. 1948 - 1949
12. 1949 - 1950
If we're being very picky, and following the tone of the original piece, years with no World Cup planned aren't really "years with no World Cup" — so it would only be two years. That makes both of us wrong 😂
You could have planned the World Cup on an odd year. They did it with Copa América to adjust to a calendar that would coincidence with the Euro. In either case we're making progress here: you are writing something that is valuable and a simple gaffe tarnish it. It is important to write about the economics of football, about the politics and geopolitics of football and place things in context, but a voice doing that shouldn't compromise the perception of their expertise due to easily fixable arithmetic errors. If I were in your shoes, I would gladly change the statement in the essay to whichever you prefer as long as it is correct and erase this whole conversation from the comments section. Just saying.
I believe in freedom of speech, and so does this community.
That said, I also believe in respectful dialogue — and based on your comment, I'm not sure this space is the right fit for you! Sorry
Agree to disagree
I draw your attention to this detail bc is one of those small things that affects the quality of what you're trying to communicate. Your text deserves thorough editing and the subject of your writing allows the time for it. Keep it going though: it's fascinating and quite necessary.
Hi. The 8-year figure refers specifically to the span of the two cancelled four-year cycles (1942 and 1946), not the total gap between tournaments.
Something I want to mention, because I really value this community: While I welcome different perspectives, I also value kindness. Substack is a great platform because of mutual respect, and I expect the interactions in this community to maintain a polite and constructive tone.
I don't understand the reference to politeness and kindness. You made an incorrect statement mathematically speaking. I pointed it out in the hope to improve the overall quality of your essay as a way to support what you're trying to communicate: 1950 - 1938 = 12.
Agree to disagree!