Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Football World Cup 

There is no better sporting event than the World Cup which brings together all the best players and teams to compete for football’s biggest prize. It is one of the most watched sporting events of all time. Fans travel in huge numbers to different stadiums during the World Cup or enjoy it at home to spice up their sporting experience. 

For an entrepreneur, there are lessons that they can learn from the World Cup. Of course the sporting spectacle is great but below are some takeaways that will make the time spent not only entertaining but productive and useful too.

 

1- Talent doesn’t always win 

Spain dominated international football between 2008 and 2012. They won the European Championship in 2008 before lifting the 2010 World Cup trophy in South Africa. 

La Roja also boasted a formidable side in the 2014 World Cup and the expectation was that they would go far in the tournament. Their line-up consisted of some of the best players from Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

However, they endured a disappointing campaign in Brazil as they exited the tournament early after humiliating defeats to Netherlands and Chile in the group stages. England and Italy were also well-stocked with quality players but they also failed to make it to the knockouts. 

The failures of these three European teams serve as an important reminder for businesses: talent doesn’t always win. It is also determined by several other factors, such as team coordination, effort, and innovation, etc. 

 

 

2- Strategy is key 

If someone would have said that Morocco would make it to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, no-one would have believed. Yet they completely defied the expectations of everyone and enjoyed their best World Cup campaign ever. 

They held Croatia to a goalless draw in their opening game before stunning Belgium by claiming a spectacular 2-0 victory. They headed confidently to the knockouts after topping Group F. 

The Atlas Lions knocked out Spain from the tournament after prevailing over them on penalties in the round of 16. And then they created another huge upset as they sealed a slender 1-0 victory over Portugal in the quarterfinals to become the first African nation in history to make it to the World Cup semi-finals. Their journey ended after France outclassed them 2-0 in the final four. 

Despite not having the best team, Morocco were able to achieve such huge victories over some of the biggest teams. Their resilience and determination played an important role, but their strategy was absolutely crucial to their success. They didn’t play an open game against big teams and often tried to frustrate their opponents rather than create chances on their own. 

For entrepreneurs, Morocco’s success is a reminder of the importance of strategy. Companies full of talented staff can go far but businesses with talent as well as a plan will be enormously successful. 

 

3- The relevance of scarcity 

The world has become a global village, with the internet bringing instant connectivity. Between social media and mobile devices we can all be reached around the clock. With over 90 percent of people sleeping within arm’s reach of their mobile devices, all of us are more connected than ever. This also makes following our favourite sports and teams very easy. One can watch the live action or read interesting sportsinsider365 latest sports news. 

FIFA could be tempted to take advantage of this trend and make the World Cup happen after every two years. However, like the Olympics, the World Cup takes place after every four years as the buildup creates more interest in the sport. 

Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from this. Businesses may not want to make their customers wait, but it is also important about having a truly unique differentiator. Football is played throughout the year, with the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 all having very long seasons. However, the passion and frenzy for the World Cup cannot be compared to any other club or international football. For FIFA, its differentiator is scarcity. Entrepreneurs should also think about what makes their products or services unique from others.