As great as this World Cup has been, the 78-year-old stooge who presides over it likely faces ouster by this time next year. Sepp Blatter will get resistance as he tries to line up enough cronies to gain a fifth four-year term as FIFA boss so it’s worth considering what the World Cup may look like with fresh leadership. Aside from removal of corruption from the process used to select hosts, perhaps the most important reform measure needed is a strong commitment by FIFA to put an end to the “white elephant” syndrome. Juliet Macur of the Times wrote a detailed story a week ago describing the hideous socioeconomic toll on governments that win hosting responsibilities.

In Brazil, new stadiums in Natal ($400 mil), Manaus ($270 mil) and Cuiaba ($293 mil) plus the nearly billion-dollar renovations made to the one in Brasilia add up to almost $2 billion in infrastructure that will see little utilization going forward. These soon-to-be white elephants infuriate the underclass of Brail as did similar newly-built venues in South Africa.

Citing a report from Forbes, Macur said this World Cup in Brazil will generate $4 billion in revenue and clear $2 billion after costs.

Since countries will continue tripping over each other to host the World Cup, it’s up to FIFA to make a firm commitment not to engage in what’s really a form of plundering from the chosen nation by accepting plans that leave behind white elephants.

The other reform measure FIFA needs to consider before 2018 impacts competitive integrity. Participants must be guaranteed a fair level of compensation given the boatload of profit produced by the event. Players from African countries especially must have assurances in advance that will remove any chance of the displays of revolt we saw in the group stage. You can’t have airplanes hauling in crates of paper currency for disbursement to stave off player disgruntlement. Pending outcomes were on the brink of being compromised at this tournament. That can’t happen. FIFA should pay players directly – and let individual federations handle a team’s logistics and bonus structures beyond basic pay that‘s generous.

The excitement here in Jackson Heights during this World Cup has been sky-high. The on-field success of Colombia served as a reminder in this incredibly diverse neighborhood which immigrant group wins the prize for most spirited. But it hasn’t really mattered who’s playing. You have droves of mostly Spanish-speaking young people and their parents trading Panini player stickers on 84th Street every afternoon. Restaurants and cafés with a TV have people packed inside to see parts of whatever game’s on. On the streets, a lot of folks are wearing jerseys. The TV ratings have been exceptional. The New York market rarely has tops-in-the-nation numbers for any program but it’s been the number one market for many of the matches including Brazil-Colombia, US-Belgium and US- Germany. Since I don’t have cable, Univision has been my source for the games when I get home from work. That network recorded its highest-ever soccer number for Mexico-Netherlands.

I think an evaluation of the US team’s performance at this Cup merits faith in the future. I didn’t like Klinsmann’s on-the-record pre-Cup assertion that the US couldn’t win the whole thing and I definitely would not have cut Landon from the roster. But Jurgen seemed to press the right buttons in Brazil and got his squad out of a group of death. The US played really hard and appeared fitter than their opponents late in games. The set piece executed at the end of extra time against Belgium I thought illustrated serious advancement in the technical proficiency of the USMNT. Yeah, Tim Howard’s greatness perhaps masked a deeper gulf between the US and the world’s elite but I have full trust in Jurgen going into 2018.

I’m rooting against the Dutch now after watching the extracurricular antics of backup Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul during the penalty kicks phase against Costa Rica. While his unconventional tactics were deemed within the rules, Krul’s conduct didn’t pass the smell test as I saw it unfold. While it was impressive Krul could come off the bench cold and win the game with saves on two kicks, his conduct was startling I thought. It’s one thing to celebrate a save – or move frantically along the goal line prior to the kick – but Krul engaged in a form of trash-talking/intimidation that I’ve never seen before from a goalkeeper during PK‘s to end a game.  It was too much.

-I had an excellent bowl of ramen last week at Ivan Orkin’s new shop inside Gotham West Market on 11th Avenue. Orkin’s career path in the restaurant business is atypical and interesting. The Long Island native found great success selling ramen in Japan and is now trying to do the same back here on his home turf. I ordered Ivan’s “Tokyo Shoyu Ramen” and loved it. The dark-colored broth is rich in flavor. Rye flour is the secret ingredient in his noodles cut on site. I’ve read complaints about price and serving size but I thought the $12 tag on a decent-sized bowl of greatness was fair given the quality. I loved it. I want to check out his other location (the one Orkin is calling his “flagship” store) on Clinton Street for the full service experience.