76th FIFA Congress Opens in Vancouver With Iran Absent — First FIFA Congress in Canada Since Montreal 1976

The 76th FIFA Congress opened at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 30, bringing together representatives of all 211 FIFA member associations 42 days before the June 11 tournament opening. More than 1,600 delegates attended, generating an estimated CAD $4.9 million in local economic impact. The Congress — the first held in Canada since Montreal in 1976 — served as the formal gathering ahead of the tournament, addressing governance, competition format, and fiscal matters. The conspicuous absence of Iran's football federation delegation — denied entry at Toronto Pearson Airport hours earlier — dominated media attention and overshadowed other business. The agenda also included the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup bid process (USA and CONCACAF submitted a joint bid for 2031; England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales confirmed a joint bid for 2035), and FIFA presidential re-election procedures for the 2027–2031 term. CTV News and CBC Sports reported strong Canadian public interest in the Congress as a preview of Canada's expanded role in co-hosting the tournament — Canadian cities Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton will collectively host 13 matches.