Box Office Bomb: Budget, $30 million ($25 million from FIFA's own coffers). Opening weekend U.S. box office (right when the scandal occurred): $918. (In other territories, the film made $178,639). This makes it the lowest-grossing film in North American box office history.
Christmas Rushed: FIFA insisted the movie be ready in time for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, giving the screenwriters about four months to finish the script when normally they would have about a year. Ironically, this rush meant the film was released the week of the FIFA corruption arrests, possibly the single worst time for the film to come out.
Iain Macintosh: It is a disgusting piece of propaganda for a discredited regime, but actor Tim Roth has absolutely nailed Sepp Blatter. Roth's reputation may never recover from his involvement with this ill-conceived, poorly executed film, but let no one say that he didn't do his bit for the team. He captures the innate furtiveness of Blatter wonderfully. The hunch, the shuffle, the swaying, the way the eyes flicker around the room — it's all there.
Director Frédéric Auburtin has said being identified as the director of the movie is "as bad as [being] the guy who brought AIDS to Africa or the guy who caused the financial crisis". He has also expressed interest in making a sequel that focuses entirely on the organization's corruption.
Creator Killer: Frédéric Auburtin has not directed a single film since United Passions.
Fake Nationality: English Tim Roth as the Swiss Sepp Blatter and moreegregiously Irish-born New Zealander Sam Neill as the Brazilian João Havelange.
Money, Dear Boy: Tim Roth has admitted he only signed on to the movie for the paycheck, in order to get out of a financial hole.
What Could Have Been: According to Auburtin, FIFA originally wanted the movie to be called Men of Legend or The Dreammakers, as if the movie didn't have enough butt kissing.
, admitting that he only appeared in it for the money. ESPN's Iain Macintosh noticed it