International Federation of Association Football (FIFA)

About the Committee:

The 2022 FIFA World Cup final reportedly amassed an audience of 1.5 billion people on television with many more at the event itself. Soccer, or fútbol, has been in the international spotlight for years and has continued to grow in popularity every year. Dating back to the grounds of the ancient Mayan Empire and the nineteenth-century British fields, the sport has been celebrated as one of the most beloved games worldwide and has been developed to become not only entertainment but a billion-dollar industry. With fame and money, comes power and the need for political structures of regulation. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has risen as the strongest and most influential body of this sport's organization across the globe. It has been responsible for the affiliation of multiple continental confederations into councils as well as the planning and hosting of extremely popular events/tournaments. FIFA is not immune to the issues and conflicts of a traditional political body. As its events grew larger into worldwide phenomenons, the shadows of corruption began to be cast on the organization – making it a morally doubtful entity. Our committee aims to analyze and mirror such practices as delegates dive into the current issues faced by real-world soccer federations. While not necessarily solving or reaching agreements in these matters, the main goal is to understand how one can use this organization's structure to its individual privilege.

A LETTER FROM THE DaiS:

Hello Delegates!

We are so excited to bring our idea to fruition with you all and bring the corrupt yet exhilarating world of international soccer to life in Ann Arbor. We look forward to seeing how both topics unfold and how all of you will bring your experiences to the debate. In understanding this is a committee about politics and current issues, there is no expectation of previous knowledge on the sport of soccer or clubs. Our focus relies mostly on the history of FIFA as a political body and how its structure dictates how the industry is controlled and manipulated. When doing your research, focus on ways your respective roles can influence debate and how they can play this game.

Hi, my name is Tiago Galera Rogano, I am from São Paulo, Brazil, and I am one of your directors for the FIFA Council committee. I am currently a sophomore here, at the University of Michigan, pursuing a double major in International Studies and Economics and minoring in Mathematics and Creative Writing. I am a writer for the Michigan Journal of International Affairs (MIJA) and a volunteer curator at the Kelsey Museum of Archeology. In my free time, I enjoy writing, reading, building and designing Lego sets, and watching soccer (from the UCL to Brazil's u20 league). This sport is a huge part of my life and I am beyond excited to see how you will bring to life the debate of our committee topics. Please, feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you might have about anything. We are looking forward to having you on campus soon!

Hello! My name is Anabella Godfrey and I am a sophomore within the College of Literature, Sciences, and Arts here at Michigan. I am double majoring in Psychology and Spanish with a particular interest in psychopathology. As a Model UN high school student, it’s a dream to be a part of MUNUM and be a director this year. Outside of MUNUM, I am a very proud member of Delta Tau Lambda Sorority, Inc. and an active member of Leim Irish Dance. I currently participate in research on campus and this past year was a part of UROP. Outside of school, I love to read, binge-watch TV and movies, and I love to cook and eat out! I hope you come to love this committee as much as I have and enjoy debating our topics, feel free to contact me with any questions!!

We are so excited to be in debate with you all and see how our two topics unfold! If you have questions about the committee or otherwise, we are available at tiagogro@umich.edu and aagodfre@umich.edu.

Best,

Tiago and Anabella, Co-Directors of the FIFA Council.