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Vancouver will soon take centre stage as major FIFA meeting comes to town

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
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Apr 24 2026, 1:00 pm
Vancouver will soon take centre stage as major FIFA meeting comes to town
FIFA

The 76th FIFA Congress is coming to Vancouver, with 1,600 international delegates expected to visit in the next week.

Taking place April 30 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, this isn’t a fan-focused event, but that doesn’t mean it won’t impact the city.

The Vancouver host committee expects the global gathering to generate approximately $4.9 million in local economic impact, with 8,600 hotel room nights being booked up.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will be there, of course, as will representatives from 211 member associations. It’s the first time Canada has hosted this annual event since Montreal last did so in 1976.

infantino fifa congress

Qatar hosted the FIFA Congress before the 2022 World Cup (FIFA)

“The FIFA Congress will bring representatives of all 211 members of the world governing body of soccer to Canada ahead of the World Cup,” Canada Soccer announced last year. “Delegates from each country, representatives from FIFA’s six confederations, media and stakeholders will be among those making the trip to Vancouver.”

Major decisions about the future of the sport are expected to be made, ranging from budgetary considerations to deciding on the hosts of future tournaments. It’s expected that the Vancouver meetings will result in determining the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cups.

This event got political four years ago, as human rights topics and Russia’s attack on Ukraine came up at the 2022 FIFA Congress, before the World Cup in Qatar.

With less than 50 days to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, things are beginning to feel real in Vancouver.

A natural grass field will soon be installed at BC Place, while 2,900 FIFA World Cup street banners are about to decorate the city.

The World Cup trophy was just in town, while FIFA’s Fan Fest will soon take over the PNE.

Then there’s the matches.

Seven of them will take place at BC Place, beginning with Australia vs. Türkiye on June 13. Canada will host at least two matches in Vancouver, and there’s even a chance Ronaldo and Portugal could visit during the Round of 16.

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