SPT 13 — The FIFA World Cup: History, Governance, and the Business of Soccer
Quarter: Spring
Instructor(s): Chris Pepe
Date(s): Apr 9—May 28
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Thursdays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 6:00—7:30 pm (PT)
Tuition: $440
Refund Deadline: Apr 11
Unit(s): 1
Status: Open
Quarter: Spring
Day: Thursdays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 6:00—7:30 pm (PT)
Date(s): Apr 9—May 28
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $440
Refund Deadline: Apr 11
Instructor(s): Chris Pepe
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
Every four years, the FIFA World Cup captivates billions—uniting nations in sport while exposing the political and financial forces that power global soccer. In Summer 2026, the tournament returns to North America for the first time in more than three decades, with matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final rounds will unfold on US soil, including at Levi’s Stadium, just down the road from Stanford. This course examines the World Cup as both a cultural spectacle and a billion-dollar enterprise. We’ll trace its origins, revisit iconic tournaments and controversies, and analyze how FIFA selects host nations and negotiates with governments. Guest speakers from inside the sport will illuminate the inner workings of player development, broadcast strategy, and global branding. Using the 2026 tournament as a case study, we’ll consider how the World Cup functions as a stage for globalization, diplomacy, and commerce—and why its influence extends far beyond the pitch.
The course will feature conversations with leading figures who have shaped the landscape of American and international soccer—from players and coaches to executives and organizers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Guest speakers include:
Landon Donovan, US Men’s National Team Legend and Former San Jose Earthquakes Star
Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director, White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026
Roger Bennett, Founder and CEO, Men in Blazers Media Network
Gregg Berhalter, Former US Men’s National Team Head Coach and Two-Time FIFA World Cup Veteran
Alexi Lalas, 1994 USA World Cup Star and FOX Broadcaster
Sunil Gulati, Former US Soccer Federation President and Deputy Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer–USA, FIFA World Cup 2026
John Kristick, Former Executive Director, 2026 United Bid Committee
Amber Steele, VP, Global Sports Partnerships and Operations, The Coca-Cola Company
Zaileen Janmohamed, President and CEO, Bay Area Host Committee
Please note: The speaker list may be updated as additional particpants are confirmed.
The course will feature conversations with leading figures who have shaped the landscape of American and international soccer—from players and coaches to executives and organizers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Guest speakers include:
Landon Donovan, US Men’s National Team Legend and Former San Jose Earthquakes Star
Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director, White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026
Roger Bennett, Founder and CEO, Men in Blazers Media Network
Gregg Berhalter, Former US Men’s National Team Head Coach and Two-Time FIFA World Cup Veteran
Alexi Lalas, 1994 USA World Cup Star and FOX Broadcaster
Sunil Gulati, Former US Soccer Federation President and Deputy Commissioner, Major League Soccer
Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer–USA, FIFA World Cup 2026
John Kristick, Former Executive Director, 2026 United Bid Committee
Amber Steele, VP, Global Sports Partnerships and Operations, The Coca-Cola Company
Zaileen Janmohamed, President and CEO, Bay Area Host Committee
Please note: The speaker list may be updated as additional particpants are confirmed.
CHRIS PEPE
Sports Industry Executive
Chris Pepe is an attorney and 30-year veteran of the sports industry, with league, brand, agency, and governing body experience. He has negotiated over 2 billion in sports deals. He was a founding executive of Major League Soccer (MLS), a leader of Yahoo FIFA World Cup digital joint venture and sponsorship, and a leader of Visa’s Global FIFA World Cup partnership. Pepe also served as the chief commercial officer for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and LA28.
Textbooks for this course:
(Optional) Roger Bennett, Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to His Chosen Home (ISBN 978-0062958716)
(Optional) Landon Donovan, Landon: A Memoir (ISBN 978-1774586914)
(Optional) Mary Papenfuss, American Huckster: How Chuck Blazer Got Rich from and Sold Out the Most Powerful Cabal in World Sports (ISBN 978-0062449696)
(Optional) Simon Chadwick(Ed), Paul Widdop(Ed.), et. al., The Business of the FIFA World Cup (ISBN 978-0367640170)
(Optional) Jonathan Wilson, The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup (ISBN 978-1645030409)
(Optional) Landon Donovan, Landon: A Memoir (ISBN 978-1774586914)
(Optional) Mary Papenfuss, American Huckster: How Chuck Blazer Got Rich from and Sold Out the Most Powerful Cabal in World Sports (ISBN 978-0062449696)
(Optional) Simon Chadwick(Ed), Paul Widdop(Ed.), et. al., The Business of the FIFA World Cup (ISBN 978-0367640170)
(Optional) Jonathan Wilson, The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup (ISBN 978-1645030409)