The past, present, and future of European football collide when plans for a breakaway league emerge, leaving the game’s most powerful leaders to defend—or upend—the traditions of the sport.

From power struggles to global politics, an exploration of FIFA reveals the organization’s checkered history — and what it takes to host a World Cup.

The awarding of the World Cup to countries around the world has been infested with bribery, corruption, global politics, backroom deals and greed; it all came to a head when…