Hosting the 75th FIFA Congress, a historic first for Paraguay, ignites Asunción with global football passion, drawing over 2,500 leaders and legends to shape the sport’s future while boosting the nation’s economy by more than $25 million. The events for the FIFA Congress, to be held on Thursday, May 15, kicked off on Monday, May 12.
This is the sixth time the FIFA Congress is held in South America, and it coincides with the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) celebrating 100 years of FIFA membership, having joined in 1925.
Preparations for the FIFA Congress in Asunción
The Congress will be complemented by activities that showcase Paraguay’s potential as a World Cup host, including matches against all-time football legends and exhibitions of historic FIFA and CONMEBOL trophies. The FIFA Congress, the highlight of the events, will take place at the Bourbon Asunción Convention Centre at 9:30 AM.
FIFA’s supreme legislative body, the Congress, addresses key decisions, including potential discussions on World Cup hosting, presidential elections, and other governance matters. Elections will be held for several key committees, including the Disciplinary Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Appeals Committee, and the Governance, Audit, and Compliance Committee. Each member association has one vote.
Today, the FIFA Delegates visited different APF (Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol) sites, where they got a first-hand look at the Association’s facilities located in the Parque Olimpico. The first official event will be a Football match on Wednesday afternoon.
“Milestone for South American football”
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez highlighted the event as a “milestone for South American football,” marking the region’s return to hosting the Congress after 11 years. The event will generate over $25 million in economic impact, benefiting hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, tourism, and commerce sectors.
In anticipation, CONMEBOL opened the Rio Hotel by Bourbon on Friday – a new tower building at the South American Football Confederation Hotel – and upgraded its Convention Centre in Luque city. The Rio Hotel has 80 rooms, a restaurant, and a 130-seat events room. “Its construction mobilised more than 250 companies and contractors”, as per the president of the Bourbon hotel chain, Alceu Vezozzo Filho, in a previous interview.
Security and logistical operations for the FIFA Congress
Paraguayan authorities have launched a huge security and logistics effort to ensure the event’s success. A contingent of approximately 5,000 police officers has been deployed, focusing on security at the FIFA Congress, mainly in Asunción and the Central Department.
Security chief General José Santander provided details on deploying staff to key locations. “We are sending staff to secure the CONMEBOL buildings, and the hotels where the various delegations will be accommodated,” he said. The move aims to secure participants’ safety and the Congress’s free-flowing arrangement, which will unify the world’s top football authorities.
What’s next?
The FIFA Congress will coincide with the centenary of the Paraguayan Football Association’s membership in FIFA and mark the beginning of a historic era for the football continent. South America will be staging the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The centenary commemoration matches of the FIFA World Cup 2030 will also be held in South America. Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Asunción will also have one game each. This match will be played in the new Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb Stadium, which is also home to Club Olimpia.
