VANCOUVER, Canada — FIFA’s 76th Congress approved a record-breaking revenue projection of $14 billion for the 2027-2030 cycle Thursday, as President Gianni Infantino confirmed he will seek a fourth term in office ahead of a World Cup that kicks off in North America in six weeks.
The UAE was represented at the gathering of roughly 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The congress approved FIFA’s Annual Report 2025 and the budget for the 2027-2030 cycle, which also foresees a new high of $2.7 billion in FIFA Forward development investments distributed among all 211 member associations — an eightfold increase compared to development programs in place before 2016.
“Let me just say that, obviously, the Forward Programme has made a big impact,” Infantino told delegates. “In the last 10 years, we have invested $5 billion in football development.”
The congress also reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to eradicating racism from the sport, with Infantino and members of the Players’ Voice Panel delivering remarks on progress under the Global Stand Against Racism — a resolution unanimously approved at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2024.
Steps taken since then include amendments to the FIFA Disciplinary Code, rollout of the No Racism Gesture at all FIFA tournaments, protection of more than 12,000 individuals and 570 teams through the FIFA Social Media Protection Service, and a series of educational initiatives. The Players’ Voice Panel, representing all six confederations, has completed multiple high-profile assignments since the Bangkok resolution.
Former Liberian president and FIFA Legends honoree George Weah delivered a video message underscoring the stakes. “This movement must go further, deeper into communities worldwide and raise awareness of the negative impact of racial discrimination,” Weah said. “Racism is a disease.”
INFANTINO’S RE-ELECTION BID
Infantino took over as head of FIFA in 2016 following the corruption scandal that led to the downfall of Sepp Blatter. He was subsequently re-elected in 2019 and 2023. Although FIFA statutes limit presidents to three terms, Infantino is permitted to run again after the body ruled that his first partial term from 2016 to 2019 did not count toward the total.
The Confederation of African Football and the Asian Football Confederation have both pledged to back Infantino for a fourth term. The two confederations together account for 101 of FIFA’s 211 votes in a presidential election. Infantino has also secured support from South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL, worth an additional 10 votes. No opponent is expected to come forward.
The 77th FIFA Congress, where the presidential election will take place, is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. A separate virtual Extraordinary FIFA Congress, intended to appoint hosts for the 2031 and 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup editions, will be held Nov. 23, 2026.
BACKGROUND
The Vancouver congress took place less than two months before the largest World Cup in history opens across Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Iran’s absence threatening to overshadow the gathering after Iranian football officials abruptly departed Canada following what Iranian media described as mistreatment at the border.
The wider logistics of a tournament spread across three countries, multiple time zones and vast distances have tested teams, supporters, broadcasters and organizers in ways no previous World Cup has.
Vancouver will host seven matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. FIFA has projected the tournament will draw seven million fans to stadiums and six billion viewers worldwide.