Vancouver selected to host FIFA Congress ahead of 2026 Men's World Cup

Vancouver will host the 76th FIFA Congress on April 30, 2026, bringing representatives of all 211 members of the world governing body of soccer to Canada ahead of the World Cup.

The announcement was made Thursday at the 75th FIFA Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay.

"I am delighted to confirm that the 76th FIFA Congress will be held in Vancouver, Canada, on the 30th of April 2026," FIFA president Gianni Infantino told the Congress. "We very much look forward to welcoming you all in Vancouver ... a beautiful host city of the FIFA World Cup in 2026."

Held since 1904, the FIFA Congress is traditionally held in the World Cup host country the year of the tournament.

In earning hosting rights, Canada wins out over co-hosts the U.S. and Mexico.

The Congress took place in Montreal in 1976 when João Havelange was FIFA president.

"It's one of the major events annually for FIFA," Victor Montagliani, a Vancouver native who doubles as CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president, said in an interview. "Outside of a World Cup or a competition, it's our biggest event because it's our annual meeting."

The Congress will be a boon to local tourism with three-plus delegates from each country, plus representatives from FIFA's six confederations, media and stakeholders. The world's governing body usually stages a legends game around the meeting, drawing in familiar faces from the pitch.

"As part of the bid, we always committed to bringing other events to Canada, as well as Mexico and the United States," said Peter Montopoli, chief tournament officer for the Canadian end of the 2026 tournament. "During the course of the lead-up, certainly a lot of the workshops and things have been centrally located, for travel purposes, which would be America. It