Though this story is based on real events, its characters are fictionalized
and not intended to resemble or discredit any actual persons.
HENRY KISSINGER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE
Isabel!
EL PRESIDENTE: CORRUPTION GAME
ADIDAS HEADQUARTERS GERMANY
Excuse me, were you talking to me?
Here. Always hold the neck.
See?
Support his head while you hold him.
Grandma's little baby.
Come to Papa.
Thanks for the lesson, Bebel.
Grandpa is here.
Grandpa?
Where is grandpa's little baby? Where is…
Look how cute he is! My goodness.
Thank you.
He's so cute, isn't he?
He's the spitting image of his grandpa. A little Havelange.
I brought a little gift for mommy.
Chocolate.
I also have chocolate…
for the cutest grandma in Rio de Janeiro.
A first-timer.
But that's not all. I also got…
the most important thing of all.
The jersey of the most charming club on the west side.
My dear Bangu's jersey.
He's 6.2 pounds, just like Vitória was.
Are you coming?
I sent a gift.
Has it arrived?
Listen, I have some business to do here.
Give my best to Vitória.
I'll call her later. Okay?
Bye.
Congratulations, João.
Meanwhile, Castor, with the help of the military,
managed to get into the CBD…
How are you doing?
…creating an innovative commission.
How are you doing, Castor?
So, as Rocha was saying,
I'm here to make CBD as transparent as possible.
That means don't do anything without my supervision.
What wonderful news!
It seems Argentina is finally moving forward.
In Argentina, the armed forces have taken control of the government.
Käser was doing everything he could to prevent Rohr from insuring the Cup.
After Adi's death,
the husbands of the other four sisters took control of Adidas.
Thanks. You heard it yourselves. They will continue working on the issue.
We will follow up.
From FIFA's headquarters in Switzerland, this is Sergio Jadue.
How can I calm down?
The deal was a huge World Cup. You don't want to spend a dime!
What do you expect? After the coup, this is above me.
I'll solve it. Don't worry.
Honey, do you remember our trip to France?
We used to order room service,
and they'd bring beautiful meals.
But we realized they tasted awful.
It feels the same here.
I miss you here, laughing with me, by my side.
Jean-Marie, we need to talk.
I've been through a storm alone for the first time,
without you by my side.
It is a difficult time for everyone.
It's been hard for me as well, adapting.
You don't want to give Zurich a second chance?
I just moved to a much nicer hotel.
No, darling. No.
I belong here.
With my things, my daughter and my grandson.
Rico won't get to know his grandfather.
At least Grandma is around.
You know I think of him every day.
Are you coming to his baptism?
Or are you still busy?
I'll do my best to be there, honey.
You know family is my priority.
It's a matter of survival.
It's our right.
DIVORCE AND RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
And we will do whatever we can
to convince each of the congressmen.
This law is not optional.
It's a basic right
to make decisions about our own lives.
Divorce is freedom!
I thought you'd be planning the baptism.
I'm glad you came, Bebel. Regardless of what people might say.
We don't see a woman like you here very often.
Is there anything I can do to help you?
Would you make a public speech?
Speaking in public is not my thing.
But I promise I'll figure out a way to help you.
These were times of transformation in Brazil.
The military government began to lose some of its power,
and women began to discuss their right to divorce.
Meanwhile, things were also changing at FIFA.
Havelange was starting a new era for FIFA.
As my grandma used to say,
if you want something done right, do it yourself.
If I help them out, I'll make some extra cash.
These Swiss are really weird.
In Chile, we would grill the sheep.
You have to be more discreet!
Look, I don't understand
all these women asking for divorce laws.
This bunch of ugly girls.
A bunch of girls with mustaches.
Don't be ridiculous. You don't get the point.
This is about being able…
to make our own decisions.
It's about having choices.
Imagine…
if your husband knows you're tied to him, no matter what happens,
there is no way to negotiate, is there?
You look so pretty when you talk like this.
So pretty.
So hot.
You know?
Castor…
Would you be able to help us persuade some congressmen?
Yes, I could.
Really?
I could do a lot of things for you.
A lot.
-Rovirosa. -It's Havelange. What do you recommend?
Is there a legal way to run a World Cup without insurance?
-Impossible. -How so?
Do you know any insurance company in Brazil we could try?
Look, Mr. Havelange, let me put it this way.
Do you remember the Munich Olympic Games years ago?
A terrorist group kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes.
The insurance company, in that case the German government itself,
had to pay a compensation of three million dollars
to each athlete's family.
Compare the control Germany had with what Argentina might have.
Then you can imagine what might happen.
This is clearly a declaration of war.
With this low blow,
the Europeans began to put their master plan in motion.
They wanted one thing. Send the Brazilian back to Brazil.
It's a Copa América! Fuck!
Calm down, Salinas.
This whole section here
is for my Imperatriz Leopoldinense,
the samba school I love.
This entire place.
Back there will be Bangu's training center.
This is a huge piece of land.
-This place is amazing. -Isn't it?
Yeah.
This is pretty much my Disneyland.
Not Disneyland.
It's my Castorland.
What's this?
What's that?
I know a lot of congressmen.
And when I say I know them, I mean I know them well.
I know about their dirty tricks. I know about their scams…
I know how they play dirty.
Did I do my homework well or not?
Nobody knew that João had paid a visit to his friend Paco.
Going straight to the point,
if you insist on hosting it in Spain,
my brother is ready to tell everyone what happened between you.
Is your family ready to know about this?
João, good and bad news.
The good is that Spain gave up on hosting it.
The bad is that they already have a new candidacy. Italy.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're about to land in the city of Buenos Aires.
A bloody dictatorship,
people disappearing,
the kidnapping of babies, repression and torture.
OMAR ACTIS - NEW MILITARY MAN IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD CUP
Promise them, you wuss.
You've always been a wuss.
And you've always had problems with authority.
But I am the authority now.
Come on! Unless we finish this TV station, there's no World Cup.
Do you want a FIFA from the future, or not?
Do we have to call João and have him build it?
Do we have to do everything around here?
It's ridiculous.
Havelange,
you finally decided to see the best of our country.
Argentinian meat.
Export quality.
Go on.
If you want the Cup to happen, you'll have to insure it yourselves.
Some Olympic Games venues have done it.
Tell that to that asshole Actis.
It's impossible to have a World Cup on these terms. I got you everything…
Sponsors, the solution to the insurance,
and I've just realized you are a nobody in this game. Nobody.
You know what?
Go fuck yourself, asshole!
All of you fuckers!
Fuck you!
I'm done with all this shit, okay? I'm sick of this bullshit.
-I'll take the World Cup somewhere else. -Sit the fuck down!
We'll make things move.
I know how to make Actis understand.
In the meantime, enjoy the show.
U.S. EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
Havelange went to see a powerful football fan
to ask for some advice that would help him to put the Cup back on track.
Good old Kissinger helped João kill several birds with one stone.
He knew how to ask for advice.
Favors come, favors go.
Favors here, favors there.
FERNANDO ALBUQUERQUE CONGRESSMAN AGAINST DIVORCE
No, no way.
You can't ask me to do this, Mr. Castor.
My reputation is at stake. I value traditional family and religion.
Excuse me, my friend.
Fernandinho…
This friend of mine is crazy about poker.
She is almost as crazy about it as you.
So it crossed my mind,
to schedule a game with her just to keep her quiet,
and tell her that if
by any chance, she beats you,
then you'll vote for her cause.
What if I win?
You can start thinking of anything you want.
Fine. Anything for my friend.
Deal.
Bravo!
Congratulations.
Congressman Silva.
I vote no.
Congressman Lima.
I vote yes.
Congressman Albuquerque.
I vote…
Yes, Mr. President.
The divorce law is approved.
Hooray!
The decision has already been made. And it's above your rank.
The country won't insure the Cup. We can't afford it.
Understood?
Understood.
UN UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
When everything was falling into place
and the future FIFA was ready to shine,
the shitty Europeans came again to put obstacles in the path.
And João was up against the ropes.
But he was willing to risk it all to win this battle.
-Rovirosa. -I know what to do. I'll insure the Cup.
What do I need to do to turn Wesbra into an insurance company?
No, I wouldn't recommend that.
As the president of an institution, you can't hire a company without bidding.
What kind of bidding is it if no freaking insurance company wants it?
The bidding is over.
There's the financial risk, and you could face serious criminal charges.
I'm not asking for your opinion. I want to know what I need to do?
Wesbra…
It's in Barbosa's name.
If you are really willing to do that, you would need…
a signed consent from your wife.
Got it.
I'll go there. Pick me up at the airport with everything I need.
And dress up. We are going go to my grandson's baptism.
Buy a teddy bear or something, okay?
A pink one?
His name is Ricardo, damn it. He's a boy.
You have the paperwork for Argentina to hire us as the insurer.
I have Wesbra's and Barbosa's paperwork, like you asked.
But I have to warn you. This is insane.
If anything goes wrong, all your assets could vanish.
Know any great accomplishments that didn't involve some risk?
Now Isabel will stamp these papers,
then you send them right away to Argentina.
Sweetheart!
Dad!
My princess.
Thanks for coming!
-Did you ever doubt me? -Never.
Son, every time I see you at church, you have a suitcase.
I hope it's a donation to the church.
I told you I'd come.
Let me hold him.
Come here.
-Go to your grandpa. -Hey…
So good.
These sinners come to the Lord's house to atone for their sins,
so I hope you're not offended if I keep the change
How cute!
Thank you, Mom.
What's going on?
My love, I need you to sign some papers.
What is this about? Are these authorizations? For what?
To organize my assets that were in your father's name.
-Your assets? -Yeah.
Are they yours or ours?
Or mine?
Now I know why you came.
I won't sign it.
I need to take a closer look at it and talk to a lawyer.
Honey, come on. There's no need for a lawyer.
Baby, we're married, aren't we?
Yes, we are.
But we could no longer be.
My father left it to me.
Mom, what is this about?
You're not getting a divorce, are you?
Don't spoil this party with one of your fits.
Daddy does everything for us.
And now you deny the only thing he asks?
-Really? -Sign the papers, Isabel.
With all the decisions I took in this house, I never failed. Never.
Really? Are you sure?
Tell me. What did you miss?
You.
Listen…
Our name is at stake here.
Our family's, our daughter's, mine, yours, our grandson's.
Just do whatever you want.
He took everything from me. My possibility to be free.
I'm not sure it's like that.
The concept of freedom is relative.
When something is yours, nobody can take it from you.
If your only concern is money,
I can assure you, you'll have enough.
Don't worry.
We can talk about this later.
João, what are you getting yourself into?