A number of key resolutions were highlighted during the just-concluded 73rd FIFA Congress that took place in Kigali on March 16.
The FIFA Congress, the supreme legislative body of FIFA, brings together top executives from FIFA, confederations and representatives from 211-member associations and other football stakeholders.
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Host nation’s President Paul Kagame was among 2000 delegates who attended the congress which was chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
From Infantino’s re-election to equal prize for men and women’s World Cup, we bring you the major highlights of the just-concluded congress.
Infantino’s FIFA re-election by acclamation
Gianni Infantino will serve a second term as FIFA President after being re-elected unopposed to lead global football’s governing body for another four years.
Upon his re-election to serve from 2023 to 2027, Infantino describe being FIFA President as "an incredible honour, an incredible privilege, and it is also a great responsibility.”
Infantino was first elected in an Extraordinary Congress in 2016 following the resignation of his predecessor Sepp Blatter, and retained his position unopposed three years later.
His re-election in Kigali, however, counts as his second term of office making him eligible for a third and final term, come 2027 elections.
FIFA statutes currently limit a president to a maximum of three four-year terms, which means that Infantino can assume the position until 2031.
Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka suspensions upheld
The two countries were restricted from voting during FIFA Elections as they remain suspended from all football activities for various reasons.
In January, FIFA suspended the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) over political interference after the federation’s presidential elections fell short of Zurich’s standards. According to reports, that was after the country’s Ministry of Sports introduced a raft of regulations that reportedly compromised the autonomy and independence of national sports bodies, including the FFSL.
In 2022, FIFA suspended Zimbabwe&039;s membership over government interference in the countries' football associations. Zimbabwe's football association denied the allegations. At the time, reports indicate, Zimbabwe authorities said they were acting against corruption, incompetence and sexual abuse.
Of the 211 associations, 199 member associations voted in favour of a motion to suspend Zimbabwe while 197 voted for the motion restricting Sri Lanka from voting during FIFA elections.
Equal prize for men and women’s World Cup
Infantino said that FIFA’s targets to have equality in payments for the men's and women's World Cups in 2026 and 2027 respectively, a decision that he described as the most difficult step in world football.
The news on Thursday that the total prize money for this year's Women’s World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand will be tripled to £125million - for the men's World Cup in Qatar it was £365m - was welcome and needed.
FIFA President appealed to commercial partners to pay more for women’s football so the body’s objective to ensure equal prize money for both men and world cups is achieved.
FIFA to set up academy in every country by 2026
In a strategic development plan for football around the world, FIFA's chief of global football development, Arsène Wenger told the Congress that the body is planning to establish at least one academy in every country around the world by 2026.
Wenger launched the ground-breaking talent development initiative which will reach every country around the world and enable member associations to optimize their technical structures.
The former Arsenal manager said that it is a great opportunity for young people around the world to play football.
FIFA will allocate $200 million to the FIFA Forward program to ensure that young talents across the globe are given a chance to shine.
FIFA approves financial budget
Continued good governance was also a key pledge during the Congress – including additional changes to the transfer system and a continued commitment to financial sustainability across the football pyramid.
For the next financial cycle, the commitment of USD 11 billion in revenue over the next four years was stated, which represents a substantial increase on the initial target of USD 6.4 billion from the previous cycle, and an increase on the USD 7.5 billion in revenue which was eventually reported.
World Cup teams to increase to 48
FIFA announced a decision to up the number of teams participating at the World Cup to make the tournament more inclusive.
As a result, the FIFA World Cup will, starting in 2026, expand from 32 to 48 nations – once again allowing for more opportunities for fans and more chances to shine on the global stage for member associations from every corner of the world.
The World Cup expansion will see the number of matches increase from 64 to 104 matches.
In the new format, Africa’s representation will double from five up to nine slots, with a chance to get a 10th slot that is subject to playoff.
Continents assured places at expanded FIFA Club World Cup
Clubs from all six continents are assured of participating in the inaugural expanded 2025 tournament after the access blueprint was unanimously agreed upon by the FIFA Council in Rwanda on March 14.
The initial decision to revise the format of the competition to a 32-team tournament that takes place every four years was taken by the FIFA Council in December 2022, and after meeting in advance of the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, the body has now laid out how the field will be determined for the 2025 tournament.
In the four seasons preceding the tournament, the winners of the premier club competition in five of six continents will earn an automatic ticket. Oceania is the only exception with their representative determined by results of the winners of the premier club competition across the whole of the four-year qualifying period.