FIFA calls for peace ahead of World Cup, announces record investments

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for peace and mutual respect among teams competing in the upcoming World Cup, amid global geopolitical tensions. The statements were made at the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich. According to the FIFA official, the role of football goes beyond the sporting dimension, becoming an instrument of cohesion in times of crisis. "FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts, but we are committed to using the power of football and the World Cup to build bridges and promote peace, while our thoughts go out to those suffering as a result of ongoing wars,” said President Infantino, who continued: "FIFA looks forward to all teams participating in the World Cup competing in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect. We have a calendar. We will soon have all 48 participating teams confirmed and we want the tournament to take place as scheduled.”

• Decision avoided in Palestinian-Israeli dispute

Following a complaint from the Palestinian Football Federation, FIFA has reviewed the situation of Israeli teams participating in competitions held in disputed territories. The international forum decided not to take action in this case, citing the legal complexity of the West Bank's status under international law, and recommended continuing dialogue between the parties.

• Record $14 billion budget for 2027-2030 cycle

The FIFA Council has approved the 2025 Annual Report, which foresees a record $14 billion in revenue for the period 2027-2030, funds to be reinvested in the development of football. The FIFA Forward programme will also reach a peak of $2.7 billion, an eight-fold increase compared to the period before 2016. "FIFA is delivering on its mission to improve and promote football globally by reinvesting unprecedented resources in the sport. It is not just about numbers, but about tangible results, such as more opportunities to compete at the highest level for men, women and youth players, as well as better infrastructure and increased access to technology across all FIFA member associations, to name just a few examples. FIFA has made huge strides in investing in football over the past decade. This would not have been possible without the World Cup, which remains our main source of income. A successful World Cup means more children playing football and benefiting from its educational power, more pitches and wider capacity development globally,” said President Gianni Infantino.

• Procedures for the designation of the hosts of the Women's World Cup

FIFA has approved the voting procedures for the designation of the hosts of the 2031 and 2035 editions of the Women's World Cup. For 2031, the candidacy involves the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica, while for 2035, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are involved. An Extraordinary FIFA Congress is to be organized by the end of 2026 to validate the candidacies. The 2031 edition will be the first with 48 teams.

• Measures to promote gender equality

The FIFA Council decided to introduce mandatory requirements regarding the presence of women in the staff of teams participating in women's competitions. Thus, teams will have to include: at least one woman in the technical staff (head or assistant coach); one woman in the medical team; two officials on the technical bench. FIFA has also approved an expanded safeguarding policy, aimed at combating harassment and abuse in football.