FIFA's logo is seen in front of its headquarters during a foggy autumn day in Zurich, Switzerland November 18, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

Vancouver hosts FIFA Congress with expanded World Cup under scrutiny

28 Apr 2026, 05:58 · CNA · Join

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VANCOUVER, Canada, April 28 : FIFA's member associations meet in Vancouver on Thursday for their annual congress, a usually routine gathering that carries greater weight this year with the 2026 World Cup less than two months away and several questions still hanging over the first 48-team edition of the tournament.

The biggest World Cup in history will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

One of the clearest concerns is cost.

The sheer scale of staging a tournament across North America, with long-haul travel, differing tax regimes and significant operational demands, has prompted unease among some participating nations.

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UEFA has passed on concerns from several European associations that teams could find it difficult to break even unless they progress deep into the competition.

FIFA, for its part, is expected to point to the unprecedented commercial strength of the tournament.

The world governing body has indicated it is prepared to raise prize money and participation payments beyond already record levels, presenting the expanded World Cup as a vehicle for wider redistribution rather than simply a bigger payday for the strongest teams.

Its argument is that more nations, more matches and greater revenues will ultimately mean more money flowing into development programmes and solidarity funding across the global game.

IRAN PARTICIPATION POLITICALLY SENSITIVE

Iran's participation is the most politically sensitive item on FIFA's agenda.

Iran have qualified for the World Cup, but security and travel concerns around their matches in the U.S. have prompted officials in Tehran to seek guarantees and request alternative venues.

FIFA has rejected any change to the schedule, saying teams are expected to play as planned.

Addressing the Asian Football Confederation Congress on Tuesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: "It is important to show that football goes ahead and to have an Iranian team participating as well.

"Now, even more, we have to show to the world that we are here, that we are united, that we can come together from all over the world in a peaceful environment that can unite the world."

VISA ACCESS AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Visa access and travel restrictions are also expected to be closely watched.

Officials from the Palestinian Football Association were recently denied entry to Canada for a pre-Congress meeting, underlining the practical obstacles that can arise when sport, border policy and international politics collide.

However, Palestinian FA Vice President Susan Shalabi was present at Tuesday's AFC Congress while its President Jibril Rajoub, she told Reuters, was in transit in Canada.

The Iran delegation was not present due to visa issues, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

"If it's like this in Canada where it's supposed to be easy, how is it going to be for the World Cup in the U.S.?," a delegate at the AFC Congress told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

FIFA says it is working with host governments to help facilitate access for delegations, though the final list of attending associations will not be confirmed until the Congress begins.

WORLD CUP LOGISTICS A DEFINING THEME

The wider logistics of the 2026 World Cup remain a defining theme. A tournament spread across three countries, multiple time zones and vast distances will test teams, supporters, broadcasters and organisers in ways no previous World Cup has.

Some federations have raised concerns privately, but FIFA argues that a multi-host model is essential for a 48-team event and reflects the future scale and ambition of the tournament.

For Vancouver, then, the task is not only to celebrate the approach of a landmark World Cup but to smooth the final edges before the June 11 kickoff.

FIFA expects the 2026 finals to be the largest and most lucrative in its history, with projected revenues of around $13 billion for the current cycle.

The challenge now is to ensure that its expanded vision of the World Cup feels not only bigger, but workable, fair and genuinely global.

Vancouver hosts FIFA Congress with expanded World Cup under scrutiny

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