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VANCOUVER — The world's most influential soccer decision-makers gathered along the Pacific Coast on Thursday, with more than 1,600 attendees at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the 76th FIFA Congress.
The event marked Canada's first FIFA gathering since the 2015 Women's World Cup, and served as the final assembly before the 2026 World Cup, with Vancouver set to host seven matches through the round of 16.
No hosts were selected for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups, with that announcement deferred to a special conference in November. Nevertheless, the 2031 tournament is widely expected to go to the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica, while the 2035 edition appears destined for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with no competing bids on the table for either event.
Here, Sports Illustrated breaks down the most notable storylines from the gathering.
Iran Absent, Assured for World Cup
Iran was the sole nation absent from the Congress, listed as missing while all other 210 FIFA members confirmed their presence. Still, FIFA president Gianni Infantino emphatically guaranteed Iran's involvement in the 2026 World Cup, despite the ongoing regional tensions and concerns surrounding matches being played on U.S. soil.
"Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and of course, Iran will play in the United States," Infantino said. "We have to bring people together ... It is my responsibility, it is our responsibility. Football unites the world, FIFA unites the world, you unite the world, we unite the world.
"We have to remember, always, that we have to be positive. We have to be smiling, we have to be happy. There are enough problems around the world, there are enough people who try to divide all over the world. If nobody tries to unite, what will happen to our world?"
According to multiple reports, Iranian Football Association chief Mehdi Taj entered Canada via Toronto, but had his visa revoked due to alleged ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terrorist organization in Canada, causing the entire Iranian delegation to miss the Congress.
Iran will not play any group stage fixtures in Canada, with their Group G schedule placing them in Los Angeles and Seattle for matches against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
Infantino Launches Re-Election Bid
The 56-year-old FIFA president declared his intention to seek re-election in 2027, with the FIFA Congress scheduled for Morocco — the governing body's second consecutive election held on African soil, where Infantino has cultivated strong alliances.
FIFA will hold the election on March 18, with Infantino pursuing a fourth term and potentially his third uncontested election, having won his inaugural leadership race in a five-candidate field in 2016, succeeding former president Sepp Blatter.
"I am honored and humbled at the same time," Infantino said, with confederations from Africa (CAF) and Asia (AFC) already pledging their support for his fourth-term campaign.
Infantino Embraces U.S. Sporting Culture, Announce Re-Election Bid
Infantino proudly revealed that FIFA anticipates generating $13.1 billion from the first 48-team World Cup this summer, and that, as a non-profit organization, those earnings will be distributed among all 211 member nations.
To achieve that milestone, Infantino noted that his increased time in North America and the United States had been instructive, "where the commercialization of sport is reaching different levels, and we can see that in this World Cup."
"FIFA has 211 members, and all 211 are equal. You are all equal to us. We will not leave anyone behind," he added, also stating that the entire ticket inventory for the upcoming tournament had been sold — despite tickets still appearing available on the platform in the hours following the Congress.
"There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets and what is important is that all the revenues that we generate from the World Cup to you go back to you, go back to the entire world and finance football in all of your countries."
Palestinian FA Hits Out at Israeli Official
Just two FIFA members addressed the Congress, as Palestinian soccer federation president Jibril Rajoub and Israel FA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman both took to the podium to speak on Israel's funding of clubs in Palestinian territories and Israel's continued participation in international soccer — a matter currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Following both speeches, Infantino stepped forward and invited the two officials for a handshake photo opportunity, which Rajoub declined, while Suliman remained standing nearby.
Gianni Infantino invited the delegates from Israel and Palestine to take a photo together.
Don't think it went the way the FIFA President hoped… pic.twitter.com/paoUNRmWqS
"Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps. He has the right to try to bring people together, but I think maybe he does not know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian sport family," Rajoub told reporters when explaining his refusal of the handshake.
"Sport is not more than exposing our just cause through the ethics and the values of sport, and it means that someone who is trying to undermine, and someone who is trying to destroy everything should face sanctions."
No further action was taken by either party or FIFA, with the matter now in the hands of the CAS.
Beyond the formal agenda, the FIFA Congress held a memorial and moment of silence honoring those in the soccer world who had recently passed, including former Liverpool star Diogo Jota, Israeli MLS player Gadi Kinda and former U.S. business executive Rocco B. Commisso.