In the documentary, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter claims he did not want the 2022 World Cup to go to Qatar

Sepp Blatter

The Men Who Sold The World Cup, a documentary covering the alleged corruption and scandal that surrounded FIFA’s decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, has launched on discovery+.

The two-part documentary features two UK investigative journalists and their quest to uncover the truth about the bidding process that led to Qatar gaining the World Cup, and includes interviews with the likes of FIFA president at the time, Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s former media director Guido Tognoni, former president of the US Soccer Federation and chairman of the US’ 2022 World Cup bid team Sunil Gulati, former footballers such as Jurgen Klinsmann and Landon Donovan, as well as others. 

The first episode focuses on Sunday Times investigators Heidi Blake and Jonathan Calvert looking at the corruption in FIFA, and the second looks at the FBI and IRS investigators who exposed the criminal behaviour at the organisation.

Blatter’s defence of his actions will take a large role in the documentary. Some of his quotes include: “I told the President my idea, that the World Cup 2022 shall go back to the United States. We would not have this discussion if it came out as I wanted.”

He added: “What can you do against the international media saying FIFA is corrupt? FIFA is not corrupt. People in FIFA were corrupt. But as they were members of FIFA, naturally they say ‘who is responsible? It’s the President.’”

He continued: “People should realise that I have given 41 years into the FIFA. What I have done for football, they should appreciate. You can convince everybody of something, but you cannot convince yourself of something you are not. So, I cannot convince me [sic] to say you are a criminal because I’m not a criminal.”

The documentary comes from directors directors Daniel DiMauro and Morgan Pehme, who were critically acclaimed for Get Me Roger Stone and Swamp. It is produced by Story Films and Calliope Pictures, with executive producers for Story Films David Nath and Peter Beard, and Jeremy Phillips at Discovery.

“I told the President my idea, that the World Cup 2022 shall go back to the United States,” he says. “We would not have this discussion if it came out as I wanted.”