When and where did the 68th FIFA Congress take place?
The 68th FIFA Congress convened in Moscow, Russia, on the 13th of June 2018. This meeting took place just days before the opening match of the host nation's World Cup tournament began.
Questions about 68th FIFA Congress
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who attended the 68th FIFA Congress alongside Gianni Infantino?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stood alongside Russian president Vladimir Putin during the event. Attendees gathered under the shadow of an ongoing sporting spectacle to shape the next decade of global football.
Why was the 68th FIFA Congress significant for World Cup hosting decisions?
This congress marked the first instance since 1966 where the FIFA World Cup host was selected directly by the full voting body. The shift returned power to the broader assembly of member associations rather than a smaller council making selections behind closed doors.
How many votes were cast during the 68th FIFA Congress final ballot?
A total of 200 votes were cast across two rounds of voting. No single vote went to Iran or any other non-winning candidate nations while the joint bid from Canada, Mexico, and the United States secured hosting rights with 134 votes against Morocco's 65 votes.
When did FIFA announce the delay of the 2026 bidding process?
On the 10th of June 2015, FIFA announced that the bid process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was delayed. Initial plans for the 2026 bidding process were postponed from 2015 to May 2020 following administrative reviews and schedule adjustments within FIFA leadership.