68th FIFA Congress
The 68th FIFA Congress convened in Moscow, Russia, on the 13th of June 2018. The Russian capital was on the eve of hosting the FIFA World Cup, and that backdrop gave the gathering an unusual charge. For the first time since 1966, the FIFA Congress was about to exercise a power that had long been set aside. The delegates themselves would choose the host of a future World Cup by direct vote. Two rival bids had come forward for the 2026 tournament, and the delegates were on the verge of settling the question.
A FIFA Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had originally been designated as the venue for this decision, scheduled for the 10th of May 2017. The bid process was meant to open in 2015 in preparation for that meeting. On the 10th of June 2015, FIFA announced that the bid process was postponed. A FIFA Council meeting on the 10th of May 2016 then established a revised timetable. That new schedule was four-phased, with May 2020 set as the final stage. By the time the process reached Moscow, two bids had cleared to compete: one from Morocco, and a joint consortium representing three countries.
134 votes went to the United bid, the joint candidacy of Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Morocco received 65. Iran cast no vote for either bid. One ballot among the 200 cast went to neither candidate. The vote confirmed in a single round that the three-nation consortium would host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Common questions
Where was the 68th FIFA Congress held?
The 68th FIFA Congress was held in Moscow, Russia, on the 13th of June 2018. It took place immediately before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Who was awarded the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosting rights at the 68th FIFA Congress?
The United bid, representing Canada, Mexico, and the United States, was awarded the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the 68th FIFA Congress. The bid received 134 of the 200 votes cast in the single round of voting.
How many votes did Morocco receive in the 2026 World Cup host vote at the 68th FIFA Congress?
Morocco received 65 votes at the 68th FIFA Congress. The United bid received 134, with one ballot going to neither candidate, for a total of 200 votes cast.
Why was the 68th FIFA Congress historically significant for World Cup host selection?
The 68th FIFA Congress was the first time since 1966 that the FIFA Congress itself chose the World Cup host by direct vote.
When was the 2026 FIFA World Cup bid process postponed?
On the 10th of June 2015, FIFA announced that the bid process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was postponed. The process had originally been scheduled to begin in 2015 and conclude at the FIFA Congress on the 10th of May 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
What was the revised schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup host selection after the postponement?
Following a FIFA Council meeting on the 10th of May 2016, a new four-phase bid schedule was announced with May 2020 designated as the final stage. The host was ultimately selected at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow on the 13th of June 2018.
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6 references cited across the entry
- 1NewsCanada, Mexico and USA selected as hosts of the 2026 FIFA World CupFIFA — 13 June 2018
- 22022 FIFA World Cup to be played in November/DecemberFIFA.com — 20 March 2015
- 3NewsFIFA defers decision on continental rotation for WCup bidsYahoo! News — 25 May 2015
- 4Fifa 2026 World Cup bidding process delayedBBC News — 10 June 2015
- 5FIFA Statement on 2026 FIFA World Cup biddingFIFA.com — 10 June 2015
- 6FIFA Council agrees on four-phase bidding process for 2026 FIFA World CupFIFA.com — 10 May 2016