FIFA Congress in Vancouver: Trump, Iran, the Peace Prize and Infantino

As of: April 28, 2026 • 6:23 p.m

The war of the World Cup host, a demand for the abolition of the FIFA Peace Prize and a renewed candidacy of Gianni Infantino as president – there is plenty to talk about at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver.

At the FIFA Congress in Vancouver The 211 national associations will meet in Canada on Thursday (April 30, 2026). The DFB is represented by a delegation led by President Bernd Neuendorf and Secretary General Holger Blask. There are no elections coming up, the main topics that provide explosive material are topics that are off the agenda:

What are the consequences of Trump’s policies and the war in Iran?

The World Cup host USA is bombing the World Cup participant Iran and there is currently no end to the situation from the FIFA Peace Prize winner Donald Trump started war in sight. Iran flirted with a boycott, but recently assured its participation. The FIFA President also emphasizes that Iran will take part in its group games planned in Los Angeles and Seattle Gianni Infantino again and again. At the same time, the US President said that it was him “It doesn’t matter at all” whether Iran is playing along and whether he recommends staying away anyway, “For the sake of the safety of the players”. A Trump adviser called for Iran to be exchanged for Italy, which does not qualify.

Many other issues remain: These include the escalation in operations by the US immigration authorities ICEentry regulations and entry bans in the USA or security issues with a view to the influential drug cartels in Mexico.

Will the Peace Prize fall?

Shortly before the congress, the Norwegian Football Association called for the abolition of the Peace Prize, which FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented to US President Donald Trump as part of the World Cup draw in December 2025 after Trump, to his annoyance, came away empty-handed with the Nobel Peace Prize. At the time, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf supported the awarding of the prize, which should now actually be awarded annually.

Neither the FIFA Council nor the FIFA Congress were involved in the awarding of the prize. There are no criteria for the award or a jury. Andrea Florence of the Sport and Rights Alliance criticized the fact that FIFA was actively involved with the price Sportswashing through Donald Trump.

“We believe that it is not within FIFA’s role to award such an award”said Norway’s association president Lise Klaveness. “We are of the opinion that we already have a Nobel committee that carries out this task independently.” Football associations would have to have one “offered distance” to state leaders.

The price calls into question FIFA’s often emphasized political neutrality. The human rights organization FairSquare Shortly after the award ceremony, he filed an official complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee and called for an investigation. Klaveness announced support for this from the Norwegian association.

Will Infantino announce his next candidacy until 2031?

Gianni Infantino is elected president until 2027. He is generally expected to run again for the term 2027 to 2031, but he has not officially announced it yet – that may happen in Vancouver.

The Council of the South American confederation CONMEBOL has already announced its unanimous support for Infantino. CONMEBOL is currently hoping to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams with more than the previously planned three games in South America.

Infantino came into office for the first time in 2016 after Sepp Blatter resigned as a result of the FIFA scandal at the time. He was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. The statutes currently provide for a maximum of three terms of office. In 2022, however, the FIFA Council confirmed that the term of office from 2016 to 2019 was incomplete and therefore does not count towards term limits. If a term limit is still in effect, this would end for Infantino in 2031 after his official third term in office.

Will there be more money for the associations at the World Cup?

At the World Cup, more money will be raised and distributed among the associations, but at the same time, for the first time, 48 teams will take part instead of the previous 32. The DFB and other European associations expressed concerns about whether the promised entry and prize money will cover travel costs and tax payments in the host countries.

FIFA is now giving in. The responsible FIFA Council will meet on Tuesday (April 28, 2026). “FIFA can confirm that it is in discussions with associations worldwide to increase available revenue”said FIFA. Both the money for the qualified teams and the funding available to all 211 member associations could be increased. There is probably enough money: FIFA expects record revenues of up to eleven billion US dollars from the World Cup.

Is there movement on the Russia question?

Infantino said in an interview with the Swiss media “Weltwoche” in February: “We will have to study specifically how to include Russia again.” Sport must remain a bridge. On the British channel Sky He added that the suspension of Russian teams “definitely” needs to be lifted, at least with regard to youth teams. “It didn’t achieve anything. It only fueled more frustration and hatred between girls and boys.”

Currently, Russia’s teams are not officially suspended because of the attack on Ukraine, but are out “For security reasons” and “to ensure smooth gaming operations”. At the congress, Russia’s association is admitted and has the right to vote, only the team is suspended. There are also supporters in UEFA for a return of Russian teams; Russian athletes recently took part in the Paralympics and then met Russian head of state Vladimir Putin at a champagne reception.

In 2018, FIFA held the World Cup in Russia despite the annexation of Crimea, which violated international law, and Infantino subsequently received the Russian Order of Friendship from Putin.