CBF Funded Politicians' Trips to 2022 World Cup, Spending Millions

Brazil's football federation, the CBF, allegedly financed trips for 49 individuals unrelated to football to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, according to Piauí magazine. The April edition details how politicians, media members, cultural figures, and their relatives were flown out with all expenses paid, including flights, hotels, and match tickets.

Among the guests were Federal Deputy José Alves Rocha (União Brasil-BA) and his wife, with total expenses reaching R$364,000. Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) also traveled with his partner at a cost of R$195,000. Senator Jaques Wagner (PT-BA) was invited but sent his son due to political obligations during the government transition.

Although eyebrow-raising, such practices aren't new for the CBF. In 1998, during the World Cup in France, then-president Ricardo Teixeira reportedly brought five judges from Rio de Janeiro’s court system, at a time when the federation had pending legal matters. However, internal sources told Piauí that even long-time CBF staffers felt this time “the excess went too far,” with total costs nearing R$3 million.

CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues, recently re-elected, downplayed the revelations. According to Piauí, he stated: “It is common practice for sports organizations to invite relevant people and public figures to major events.”