Beyond the World Cup: Edna Falla-Quintanilla on FIFA, Global Business & Disputes What does it take to manage legal affairs for the organization behind the world's biggest football tournament? This week on Tales of the Tribunal, host Chris Campbell is joined by Edna Falla-Quintanilla, Head of Corporate Legal at FIFA, for a fascinating look behind the scenes of international football, global business, and dispute resolution. Born in Bogotá and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Edna's career has taken her from private practice in Colombia to the United States, where she spent 14 years at FedEx, ultimately overseeing legal matters across 48 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Today, she works at FIFA's Miami offices, navigating the corporate legal challenges of an organization whose reach extends across virtually every corner of the world. And while football may be the organization's most visible product, Edna explains that the legal work behind the scenes involves everything from international contracting and corporate governance to commercial arbitration, litigation, employment matters, and the delivery of global sporting events. Joining Chris for this conversation is our very own Lidia, who helps explore the challenges and opportunities of working across cultures and leading international legal teams. In this episode, we discuss: From Colombia to FIFA: How Edna's early career in litigation, her LL.M. studies in the United States, and her years at FedEx prepared her for a global leadership role in an entirely different industry. Inside the World Cup: What it takes to organize the world's biggest football tournament, the legal teams working behind the scenes, and the experience of witnessing the 2026 World Cup from inside FIFA. The business of football: How FIFA operates as both a global governing body and a commercial organization, and the legal complexities that come with each role. Arbitration and international disputes: The distinction between sports arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the commercial disputes that arise from FIFA's international business operations. Leading across cultures: Lessons from managing legal responsibilities across dozens of jurisdictions, building diverse teams, and adapting to different approaches to risk, communication, and leadership. Career development and mentorship: Why Edna encourages young lawyers to take opportunities outside their comfort zones, build professional relationships before they need them, and remain open to unexpected career paths. Beyond the law: Edna's love of Colombian culture, Latin American literature, music, family, and a perfect sunset in the Florida Keys. Whether you're an arbitration practitioner, an in-house lawyer, a football fan, or simply interested in how international organizations operate, this episode offers a fascinating perspective on the people and legal work behind the beautiful game. Episode Chapters [00:00:45] — Opening Notes & Introduction [00:03:29] — Interview Begins: Meet Edna Falla-Quintanilla [00:55:48]— Beyond the Law: Mentors, Books, Music & Personal Interests [01:11:32] — Closing Notes & Acknowledgments Timestamps will be updated to reflect the final edited audio. Books, Music & References 📚 Edna's Book Recommendations One Hundred Years of Solitude — Gabriel García Márquez A landmark of Latin American magical realism, exploring generations of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/search/one-hundred-years-of-solitude/ The House of the Spirits — Isabel Allende A multigenerational novel exploring family, politics, love, and the extraordinary within everyday life. https://www.simonandschuster.com/search/books/Title-The-House-of-the-Spirits Edna shares that she experienced both books as audiobooks, making use of her daily commute to rediscover some of Latin America's most celebrated literature. 🎵 Edna's Music Recommendations Edna's musical interests are as international and varied as her legal career! Growing up in Barranquilla, music has always been part of her life, and her playlist spans everything from reggaeton and Latin rock to classic British and American rock. Some of the artists she mentions include: Shakira: https://open.spotify.com/search/Shakira Daddy Yankee: https://open.spotify.com/search/Daddy%20Yankee Olivia Rodrigo: https://open.spotify.com/search/Olivia%20Rodrigo Queen: https://open.spotify.com/search/Queen The Beatles: https://open.spotify.com/search/The%20Beatles Guns N' Roses: https://open.spotify.com/search/Guns%20N%27%20Roses Poison: https://open.spotify.com/search/Poison And don't forget the Latin rock of the 1980s and 1990s, another favorite of Edna's! Learn More FIFA — Fédération Internationale de Football Association https://www.fifa.com/ Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) https://www.tas-cas.org/ Swiss Arbitration Centre https://www.swissarbitration.org/ Special Thanks & Shout-Outs Edna sends a special thank you to the colleagues and teams who have helped shape her career, including former colleagues in Colombia, Chile, and Miami, and her current team at FIFA. Among those she mentions are Giovannesca, Rodrigo, Luis, Heidi, Anna, and Rishi, as well as her former FedEx leader Madeline Blanco-Reyes. She also gives particular credit to her parents, whose commitment to education and hard work had a lasting influence on her career and personal values. A special thank you to Josh and Jaden for their work on the episode editing and show music, MoBetta Productions for production support, and Lidia for joining Chris in the conversation. And, of course, thank you to Edna for sharing her experiences and insights with our listeners! Stay Connected Have a guest or topic you'd like us to feature on Tales of the Tribunal? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on LinkedIn, share this episode with a colleague, and follow the podcast for more conversations from the world of international law, business, and dispute resolution. Disclaimer: None of the views shared today or any episode of Tales of the Tribunal is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind. No compensation was provided to any person or party for their appearance on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point. All interviewees appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host’s employer. All rights reserved. A Note on Episode Timestamps: Some podcast platforms automatically generate AI-based timestamps or chapter markers, which may not accurately reflect the episode's content. For the best listening experience, please refer to the timestamps provided in the official episode description. There is no disputing it — you're listening to Tales of the Tribunal!
