68th FIFA Congress
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. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stood alongside Russian president Vladimir Putin during the event. The timing created a unique backdrop for decisions that would shape the next decade of global football. Attendees gathered under the shadow of an ongoing sporting spectacle.
This congress marked the first instance since 1966 where the FIFA World Cup host was selected directly by the full voting body. Prior to this change, a smaller council made these critical selections behind closed doors. The shift returned power to the broader assembly of member associations. Critics noted the transparency gained through this procedural overhaul. The decision process now involved hundreds of delegates rather than a select few officials.
Initial plans for the 2026 bidding process were postponed from 2015 to May 2020 following administrative reviews and schedule adjustments within FIFA leadership. On the 10th of June 2015, FIFA announced that the bid process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was delayed. A new bid schedule emerged after the FIFA Council meeting on the 10th of May 2016. This four-phase process stretched the timeline significantly beyond original expectations. Administrative hurdles forced organizers to rethink their approach to selecting future hosts.
The joint bid from Canada, Mexico, and the United States secured the hosting rights with 134 votes against Morocco's 65 votes during the 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. The margin between the winning coalition and its closest rival proved decisive in the outcome. This result established North America as the host region for the tournament scheduled for 2026.
A total of 200 votes were cast across two rounds, with no single vote awarded to Iran or any other non-winning candidate nations. The distribution showed a clear preference among member associations for the trilateral proposal. Some delegates abstained from casting ballots entirely while others supported multiple bids before narrowing their choices. The final tally reflected a broad consensus rather than a narrow factional victory. The absence of support for smaller bids highlighted the dominance of the leading proposals.
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Common questions
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.
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.