The World Trade Organization (WTO) and global football body FIFA have announced plans to work together to examine how international trade and football can serve as catalysts for economic growth and social inclusion, even as market studies predicted Qatar to benefit up to $20 billion economic impact from hosting the world cup.
The collaboration, spelt out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, seeks to foster synergies in relation to the economic dimension of sport and empowerment, especially for least-developed countries (LDCs) and women.
Cooperation within the context of the WTO’s cotton programme is also a central element of the agreement.
The WTO and FIFA agreed to collaborate by exchanging views on their respective activities and by preparing and implementing common strategies and projects in areas of shared interest.
Regarding the WTO’s cotton programme, the two global bodies will explore opportunities to enhance participation of the ‘Cotton Four’ (C4) countries – Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad and Mali – and other LDC cotton producers in global football apparel value chains.
The two organisations will also work together in the development of publications, including a joint study on the economic impact of football and its role in unlocking global economic growth potential, and will explore options for the development of capacity-building activities that support the use of football as a tool for women’s empowerment, particularly in LDCs.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she was excited at the prospect of collaborating with FIFA to try to leverage the cotton sector in a positive way for poor developing countries such as the Cotton 4.
“I’m really excited that collaboration with FIFA could help us pull these countries more into the global cotton value chain’” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala said she was also thrilled at the prospect of working on gender empowerment.
“We have a big sports economy, and to the extent that we can pull this through trade to support women, this is a positive signal,” she said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the sporting body redistributes its revenue among its 211 member associations to help them develop football in their countries by investing in infrastructure, facilities, competitions, refereeing and coaching.
“Yet, we believe that there is still more that football can do, especially for the youth in the developing world. This important partnership can help us find ways of ensuring that football can further promote sustainable development for everyone to benefit from the global football economy,” he said.
On behalf of the C4 countries, as well as Côte d’Ivoire and all the African countries and LDCs that produce and export cotton, Ambassador Ahmad Makaila of the Republic of Chad welcomed the ‘excellent initiative’.
“This robust cooperation is more than ever indispensable to ensure that our countries bounce back from the many crises we are currently facing, undertake better reconstruction and help achieve the sustainable development goals,” he said.
Under the MoU, which will remain in force until 31 December 2027, the WTO and FIFA will exchange information and expertise on the economic dimension of football, through participation in conferences, regular meetings and contribution to studies.
Once a year, a joint review will be undertaken to assess the collaboration and identify specific activities or projects to be implemented the following year.
A recent study by global consultancy RedSeer Strategic Consultants said besides the economic impact of $15-$20 billion, the world cup could act as a springboard to drive tourism in Qatar, helping it to double revenue from the sector to about $34 billion by 2030. Qatar is reportedly spending about $200 billion in developing infrastructure and other facilities – majority of this is part of the broader Qatar 2030 plan – for hosting the FIFA world cup.
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