Cup of Life: What the FIFA World Cup Teaches Us About Running a Business

It’s that time every four years when people come together to celebrate football!

For billions of football fans around the world, the FIFA World Cup is the Greatest Show on Earth—and they’re not wrong.

The spectacle that is the FIFA World Cup has grown bigger and grander over the years. In 2026, the tournament is being jointly hosted across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The competition kicked off on 11 June 2026 in Mexico, while the final will be played on 19 July 2026 in New York City.

This year’s tournament is especially significant because it will be the biggest World Cup in history. For the first time, the number of participating teams has increased from 32 to 48, giving more nations the opportunity to be part of the tournament.

It’s set to be an exciting month of world-class football, unforgettable moments, and fierce competition! Beyond the sporting action, there is much to learn from the World Cup, not just for football fans but business leaders and owners too. In conjunction with the tournament, let’s look back at the last FIFA World Cup in 2022 and the five lessons QNET entrepreneurs can learn from it and inspire you on your business journey.

5 lesson learn from FIFA World Cup in 2022

1. Be ready when opportunity comes

In 2022, Argentina entered the tournament as one of the strongest teams and a favourite to win the World Cup. In contrast, Saudi Arabia was widely considered the underdog, with few people expecting them to challenge one of football’s powerhouses.

However, Saudi Arabia stunned everyone by defeating Argentina 2–1. The victory became one of the most memorable moments of the tournament and proved that anything is possible when preparation meets opportunity.

This lesson could also apply to business. Even when others doubt you or your business, continue to prepare, learn, and improve your skills. Your hard work will pay off when it’s come to the right timing.

2. Losing Isn’t the End

Starting the tournament with a defeat may not be great news, but it is not the end of the journey.

Argentina lost their opening match in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, they continued to believe in themselves, bounced back stronger, and went on to win the tournament.

Just as in football, success in business is often measured by achieving goals. However, your first result does not determine your outcome. A setback is not a sign to give up, it is an opportunity to learn, improve, and come back stronger.

The winners are not those who never fail. They are the ones who refuse to let failure be the end of their story.

3. Never Stop Evolving

Germany’s early elimination was one of the surprises of the past World Cups. What made it even more shocking was that this was the second World Cup in a row in which they were eliminated at the group stage, following the same fate at Russia 2018. This was especially unexpected for the former World Cup champions who had won the tournament in 2014. Their exit showed that past achievements are not enough to guarantee future success.

This is not a reflection of individual talent, but rather a reminder that the game is constantly evolving. While other teams continue to adapt, improve their strategies, and embrace new approaches, relying on old methods could cause even the strongest teams to fall behind.

The lesson for entrepreneurs, thus, is that resting on past success doesn’t guarantee future success. Augmenting one’s entrepreneurial gifts with focus, dedication, effort, and belief can, however, give you a fighting chance.

4. Belief is everything

At the start of the last World Cup, few people considered Morocco to be one of the favourites. However, by defeating both Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages, Morocco made history as the first African nation to reach the semi-finals. Their remarkable journey proved that success is not determined by expectations.

Yes, success in football, like in business, often necessitates achieving goals. Nevertheless, it’s certainly possible to “win” in the eyes of your customers and peers even when you don’t. The key, however, is to be world-class in your approach, authentic and always give your all.

5. The Power of Teamwork

Everyone may celebrate Messi’s success in winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, Argentina’s victory was not only about Messi, but also about the team. To make their game plan work, every player needed to trust one another and play their role.

Everyone may celebrate Messi’s success in winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, Argentina’s victory was not only about Messi, but also about the team. To make their game plan work, every player needed to trust one another and play their role.

In business, you never work alone. You need people who can support you and help you achieve your goals. Trust your team, build the vision, and grow together. Do not leave anyone behind. Great success is built on teamwork.

All games and matches always leave us with lessons to learn. The same applies to business, we need belief, dedication, and teamwork to make things work. By applying the lessons listed above to your business, you can continue to improve and grow. These remind us that success requires continuous learning, adaptability, and the willingness to keep going even when faced with difficulty.

The 2026 World Cup is only about halfway through, but we’ve already seen incredible performances. France’s Kylian Mbappé has just joined the ranks of Lionel Messi and Miroslav Klose in having contributed to 20+ World Cup goals (scores and assists) in their history in the game. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland, who scored four goals in Norway’s first two matches, has become an early favourite in the running for this year’s Golden Boot.

As the Official Direct Selling Partner of Manchester City FC, the club that’s home to Haaland and other standout players such as England’s impenetrable Marc Guéhi and Spain’s metronomic captain Rodri, we look forward to this year’s event. We can’t wait to see what lessons and inspiring moments the 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring

This article was originally published in November 2022. It has been refreshed for relevance.