World Football Insider

World Football INSIDER (WFI) is a primary source of news about preparations for the FIFA World Cups. In addition, INSIDER delivers the inside line on FIFA's 208 member associations and the business of the six continental confederations, coverage of the world’s leading football industry conferences, as well as the sponsors of the "beautiful game".

History

World Football INSIDER is the first online publication devoted to the business of football. It was launched by Around the Rings, the number-one publication in the world covering the business and politics of the Olympic Movement, in June 2009. The company launched INSIDER after realizing the need for a reputable publication about the business of international football. World Football INSIDER has become a leader in coverage of the multi-billion dollar international football industry and is frequently quoted across international media.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

“We saw the need for a reputable publication about the business of international football,” says Publisher Sheila Scott Hula about the formation of World Football Insider. “Because football is an Olympic sport, it was a logical extension of our brand, which is already accepted as the industry leader worldwide.”^[6]

The publication’s growing readership includes: FIFA members, officials from the six confederations (CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, UEFA and AFC); organizers of the next three World Cups in Brazil, Russia and Qatar; England's Premier League and other leagues from around the world; football clubs; football agents and consultants; sponsors and sports marketing companies; officials from sports ministries; and national governing bodies.

Publications

World Football INSIDER sends out daily news bulletins focusing on the biggest stories in the international football business. WFI also produces special printed magazine editions to coincide with major football events globally.

Soccerex Global Convention Special Editions: The magazine targets attendees of the world's largest football expo, held in different cities around the world each year. INSIDER is one of a few select media partners, chosen for the respect it commands and for its global audience.^[7] INSIDER also produced a Soccerex Rio Special Edition in 2010.

INSIDER’s 10 to watch:^[8] INSIDER’s ’10 to watch’ is a ranking of those people expected to have the biggest influence in the global football business in the coming year. The series began in 2010 and starts in December of every year.

Coverage

Since its inception, correspondents have reported from Zurich, South Africa, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Nassau and many other locations to provide on-the scene reporting of major football events.

INSIDER reporters provided comprehensive coverage of the 2010 edition in South Africa, the first World Cup on African soil, and are reporting week in week out on the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Brazil Russia and Qatar. Their coverage extends to reporting the key decisions affecting the game made by the International Football Association Board,^[9] custodians of the Laws of the Game, the FIFA Executive and the decision-making bodies of the continental confederations;^[10] AFC,^[11] CAF,^[12] CONCACAF,^[13] CONMEBOL,^[14] OFC,^[15] and UEFA.^[16] INSIDER is also covering the build-up to the Women's World Cup^[17] in Germany in summer 2011 and the UEFA 2012 European Championships^[18] in Poland and Ukraine.

Online

Most of WFI’s content is disseminated via its website.^[19] Traffic to WorldFootballinsider.com comes from all corners of the globe: Europe 42%, North America 25% and Asia 23%.

Correspondents, contributors, and staff

• Ed Hula, Founder and Managing Editor
• Mark Bisson, Editor
• Sheila Scott Hula, Publisher
• Peter Lewman, Chief Operating Officer
• James Corbett (author), European Correspondent
• Matthew Grayson, Americas Correspondent
• Terry Baddoo, Columnist

References