FIFA calls Extraordinary Congress for November 23 via video conference

FIFA has officially announced the calling of an Extraordinary Congress for Monday, November 23, 2026. The session will take place by video conference at 3:00 p.m. and will bring together representatives of the 211 affiliated associations, in the first major assembly of world football's governing body since the storm of this summer.

The meeting comes after FIFA's attempt to sell part of the World Cup rights to private investors, a project that had to be halted and has drawn criticism toward president Gianni Infantino from several confederations, with UEFA leading the opposition.

Key points of FIFA's Extraordinary Congress on November 23

• It will be held by video conference at 3:00 p.m. on November 23, 2026.
• Each of the 211 member associations must appoint a main delegate, preferably its president.
• Five days earlier, on November 18, the deadline to submit candidacies for the FIFA presidency closes.
• The agenda includes a speech by Gianni Infantino and the selection of the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups.
• The next Congress, in person, will take place on March 18, 2027 in Rabat, Morocco, and will elect the president for the cycle until 2031.

What FIFA's circular to member associations says

The call is based on the governing body's statutes, specifically article 25, paragraphs 3 and 5, and article 61, paragraph 3. The decision to activate this Extraordinary Congress corresponds to the FIFA Council, which has opted for a fully remote format on this occasion.

We are pleased to inform you that, in accordance with article 25, paragraphs 3 and 5, and article 61, paragraph 3 of the FIFA Statutes, the FIFA Council has decided to convene an Extraordinary FIFA Congress on November 23, 2026, which will be held by video conference.

The communication also requests that each association appoint a main delegate to represent it. The text stresses that this representative must be the president of the member association or a person expressly designated by the association itself.

FIFA's election calendar: from November 18 to March 2027

The date of the Extraordinary Congress is no coincidence. Just five days earlier, on Wednesday, November 18, the deadline to submit candidacies for the FIFA presidency closes. That means by the time associations connect on the 23rd, it will already be known whether Gianni Infantino will face a rival or rivals in the race to remain at the helm of the organization.

Infantino has already made clear his intention to run for re-election. The vote is scheduled for March 18, 2027, during the in-person Congress to be held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. There, delegates will elect the president who will lead FIFA for the following four years, until 2031.

The calendar outlines a relentless scenario. First, the remote assembly in November for immediate matters. Then, the closure of candidacies. And in March, the final vote on Moroccan soil, which will decide who presides over the 2030 World Cup jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

What will be decided on November 23: hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups

Among the items on the agenda, the designation of the host countries for the next two Women's World Cups, in 2031 and 2035, stands out. The selection of these venues will take up a significant part of the session, along with president Infantino's speech.

The Extraordinary Congress will thus help define the immediate future of women's international football, at a time of continuous growth for the tournament and rising interest from aspiring federations.

Africa's weight and the 2030 World Cup final: Madrid or Casablanca

The shadow of the 2030 World Cup hangs over the whole process. The great tournament that will unite Spain, Portugal and Morocco will stage its electoral prelude on African soil, and the role of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) could prove decisive in the election of the FIFA president.

That balance of power will determine one of the great unknowns of the tournament: which city will host the final. Madrid and Casablanca are fighting for that stage, and African influence in the next presidential cycle could tip the balance one way or the other.

Criticism of Infantino over the World Cup rights sale project

The Extraordinary Congress is the first FIFA has held since the institutional earthquake of this summer. The plan to sell part of the World Cup rights to private investors triggered a wave of criticism, with UEFA as the loudest voice against the president.

The complaints, however, were not limited to the European confederation. There were also signs of discontent in other confederations such as CONCACAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, CAF and OFC. The project was eventually stopped, but the unease it generated will likely set the tone for the upcoming assemblies.

Frequently asked questions about FIFA's Extraordinary Congress