On this edition of What's At Stake, Bryan DeAngelis is joined by Julia Decerega and Rustin Finkler, two directors at Penta Strategy, and Meredith McCleary, an associate and podcast producer at Penta, to discuss the economics, geopolitics, and business challenges of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup.

Controversy has dogged this World Cup from the moment former FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced in 2010 that Qatar would host it in 2022. The group not only breaks down the money behind the biggest event in soccer, but also tackles the stakeholder risks and opportunities for businesses looking to sponsor similar events. How are advertisers and other businesses navigating these challenges? And what should business leaders take away from their experiences?

The group discusses the main criticisms of the tournament, the economic payoff of hosting the World Cup, and the cost of hosting similar events. Plus, the group shares hopes and predictions for the future of American soccer fandom when the World Cup comes to North America in 2026.

The economics of the World Cup