The highly-anticipated 73rd FIFA Congress will convene in Kigali on Thursday, March 16, at BK Arena, bringing together about 2,000 delegates from 211-member associations across the globe.
The FIFA Congress is the supreme legislative body of the International Association Football Federation (FIFA), the international governing body of associations of football, futsal and beach soccer.
ALSO READ: Rwanda to host 73rd Fifa Congress in March 2023
It attracts a number of top football executives varying from members from the top leadership of each member association and top officials from all confederations and FIFA officials and top football stakeholders.
The delegates have started to jet in and former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura, were among guests who arrived in Kigali on Sunday night, March 12, to attend the congress which will be chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
ALSO READ: Wenger arrives in Rwanda for FIFA congress
Prior to the Congress, a FIFA Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14. Delegates will later participate in the ‘Delegation Football Tournament’ slated Wednesday at Nyamirambo Stadium. It will be the first football event that will take place at the facility since it underwent renovation in January.
On the agenda of the congress include suspension or expulsion of a member association, presentation of FIFA’s annual report, vote on approval of the cycle budget for 2023-2026 and the detailed budget for 2024 among others.
The most awaited item of all on the agenda of the FIFA Congress in Kigali is the elections of the FIFA president who will be taking office during the next four years. Incumbent Infantino will stand for a third-term unchallenged during the elections.
If elected, Infantino will be serving his last term in office.
The development means the Swiss-Italian is on course to preside over at least three World Cups, with his upcoming third-term set to go beyond the 2026 edition, which will be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The FIFA Presidential election and FIFA World Cup host country election takes place at the congress in the year following the FIFA World Cup.