FIFA, the global governing body for soccer, is in the midst of a substantial overhaul of its legal team in the United States, a move strategically aligned with the upcoming 2026 World Cup (Bloomberg Law). This reconstruction follows the organization’s announcement last September to relocate its in-house legal and compliance staff from its Swiss headquarters to Coral Gables, Florida, a suburb of Miami. As part of this effort, FIFA has onboarded Edna Falla-Quintanilla, previously a managing director and regional counsel at FedEx Corp., to lead its corporate legal team (LinkedIn).
Falla-Quintanilla’s addition to FIFA’s legal roster comes at a crucial time as the sports sector experiences increased complexity in business transactions. This trend is highlighted by the growing demand for in-house lawyers who can provide both strategic leadership and deal-specific counsel. According to Jaimie Wolf, a veteran sports industry lawyer and current General Counsel for Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, legal teams in the sports industry are now integral to strategic growth and leadership rather than just transactional functions (Bloomberg Law).
FIFA’s legal team expansion comes after a significant turnover, including the departure of its former head of commercial legal, David Trasler (LinkedIn), and nearly two-thirds of its legal staff deciding against relocation to the United States (The Guardian). In response to these challenges, the organization has initiated a recruitment drive to fill the newly created vacancies. Recently hired professionals include Curtis Franks Jr., former Associate General Counsel for the NCAA, to be General Counsel for the 2026 World Cup (Bloomberg Law).
The relocation to Miami also comes at a time of burgeoning soccer interest in the US, particularly with increased investment in MLS and women’s soccer (Bloomberg Law). Miami’s role as a multilingual business hub ideally situates it to support FIFA’s broad legal and compliance initiatives (Bloomberg Tax). This geographical move is a tactical decision aimed at enhancing FIFA’s operational efficiency ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
The timeline for FIFA’s legal division to fully transition to Miami is set for late August, marking roughly a year since the overhaul began. Moreover, FIFA’s online jobs portal currently lists a dozen openings for legal and compliance positions in Miami (FIFA Jobs), signaling ongoing efforts to fortify its legal team.
This restructuring is also an attempt to move beyond previous legal scandals that have plagued the organization. FIFA has taken significant steps to strengthen its legal and compliance protocols, including hiring its first-ever compliance chief and overhauling personnel (Bloomberg Law) following a major corruption scandal. As soccer’s governing body prepares for the influx of global attention that comes with hosting the World Cup, its revamped legal team will play a pivotal role in navigating the intricate legal landscapes associated with such an event.