Sepp Blatter’s crystal ball for 2025: eight big calls, one big reality check

Turn of the century. A fresh millennium. And Sepp Blatter, then the most powerful man in football, was asked to peer into the future and tell us what 2025 might look like. He didn’t quite claim clairvoyance, but he did serve up eight hefty predictions. Twenty-five years on — after VAR, superclubs, and transfer fees going stratospheric — it’s time for the scorecard. Spoiler: it’s a rough watch for Sepp.

Blatter’s own reign ended in 2015 amid legal storms and corruption allegations, leaving many of his grand designs stranded on the drawing board. But the game didn’t stand still: Figo’s £52m once felt wild; Neymar’s £193m made it look like pocket money. Tactics ditched the rigid 4-4-2 for press-and-possession sophistication. The sport got smarter, richer, and louder — just not quite how Blatter imagined.

If you fancy casting your own eye over where the game’s headed — and the odds that follow — our curated guide to the best betting sites is a handy companion for the modern fan.

1) The Europe–South America duopoly would fall

Every few years a new challenger flexes: China’s splurge, Russia’s Anzhi experiment, now Saudi Arabia’s cash wave. But when the dust settles, the power base stays put. Europe remains the club game’s summit, while Argentina and Brazil still set the standard in South America. The usual European suspects — England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal — are perennially fancied for major honours. Outsiders make noise; the establishment keeps the trophies.

Verdict: Miss. The throne never truly changed hands.

2) London clubs would move out and groundshare

He pictured a capital bursting at the seams, forcing traditional rivals to shack up in shiny new bowls on the city’s fringes — think Roma/Lazio or the Milanese at San Siro. Reality? Not a chance. Identity matters. Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham — all kept their own front doors. The closest we came was temporary use of Wembley during rebuilds. Permanent groundshare between bitter neighbours? Try selling that on a Monday night phone-in.

Verdict: Miss. The badge over the boardroom spreadsheet.

3) Players would retire earlier from international duty

Club football may be the weekly grindstone, but the pull of the flag hasn’t faded. Sports science, nutrition and recovery have stretched careers; legends keep going. Cristiano Ronaldo has redefined longevity, Lionel Messi remains box-office deep into his late 30s, and veterans everywhere are squeezing every last cap from their legs.

Verdict: Miss. International football still makes hearts — and careers — beat longer.

4) Midfield would get more physical, less technical

It went the other way. The reckless reducer is a dying breed, the ball-playing metronome is king. Law changes and stricter officiating curb the hatchet men; coaching revolutions prized press resistance, angles, and brains over brawn. From Guardiola’s Barcelona to today’s best, control and craft trump clatter and crunch.

Verdict: Miss. Technique and intelligence rule the middle.

5) The USA would churn out world-class stars

American football culture and infrastructure have boomed, and hosting duties for major tournaments underline intent. But the men’s side hasn’t yet produced a truly era-defining superstar, and results still swing from promise to pothole. The top table remains invite-only, and the US are more plucky up-and-comers than perennial contenders.

Verdict: Mostly miss — progress, yes; powerhouse, not yet.

6) All major new stadiums would have closeable roofs

Some do — climate control and acoustics have their selling points, from Amsterdam’s pioneering roof to Madrid’s revamped Bernabéu and super-venues across the US. But “all” was a stretch. Tottenham’s masterpiece and Arsenal’s Emirates don’t close over, Anfield’s expansion stayed open-air, and Wembley’s partial canopy doesn’t seal the bowl. The price tag often outweighs the payoff.

Verdict: Miss with caveats — notable examples exist, but the universal roof never arrived.

7) Pay-per-view would dominate British coverage

There was a flirtation — remember PremPlus? — but it fizzled. The model today is subscriptions across multiple broadcasters rather than a PPV takeover. Fans still clamour for fuller access, illegal streams persist, and the Saturday 3pm blackout keeps the debate simmering. Dominant PPV? Not in this league.

Verdict: Miss. Subscriptions won the rights battle, not PPV.

8) Fewer ex-pros would become elite managers

Data, set-piece coaches and tactical boffins have transformed backrooms, but the sharp end is still stacked with former players who lived the tempo and the pressure. Across Europe’s elite, big jobs keep landing with those who excelled on the pitch and learned under the best. Football IQ born in the dressing room still counts.

Verdict: Miss. The dugout remains an ex-pro’s domain, with a few notable exceptions.

The final tally

Eight predictions, precious little accuracy. The grand vision mostly missed its mark because football’s evolution wasn’t about gimmicks or quick fixes — it was about marginal gains, smarter coaching, global talent pipelines and an ever-richer European epicentre. In short: the game sprinted forward, but not down the paths Blatter mapped out.

So, where next? Expect tech to keep nudging the margins, formats to keep evolving, and the power base to resist easy disruption. And if anyone else fancies predicting 2050, do us a favour — keep the receipts.