Nihil sub sole novum.

FIFA follows the money and the reason is simple: they have to compete with the insane privatized corporate climate that is association football today. Nobody is playing for the fame and recognition anymore, it's all about publicity, market value and prize money, and those require funds.

Saudi-Arabia benefits off of that by being able to sportswash their unjust regime, FIFA benefits by being able to hold an event. Qatar was the same deal, nobody gives a crap about football there as one could easily see.

That's what endstage capitalism calls "innovation".