FIFA Delays Selection of Host for 2026 World Cup

Under the influence of allegations regarding the awarding of World Cup hosting rights and financial corruption cases, FIFA announced that the process of selecting the host for the 2026 World Cup will be postponed, while simultaneously searching for a replacement for Sepp Blatter has begun. According to Reuters, Jerome Valcke, FIFA's Secretary General, stated on Wednesday, June 10, during an event in Russia that starting the process of selecting the next World Cup host under the current circumstances is 'meaningless.' At the same time, FIFA announced that its executive committee will set 'multiple proposed dates' for the upcoming congress and the selection of a successor to Sepp Blatter in an extraordinary meeting to be held in July. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate financial corruption and bribery within FIFA, including the voting process and the awarding of the 2016 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Jerome Valcke, in a press conference in Samara, one of the host cities for the 2016 World Cup in Russia, nervously and agitatedly answered reporters' questions regarding FIFA's financial scandals and the organization's future decisions. Normally a calm person, Valcke was visibly anxious at this press conference and told media representatives, 'You have decided that after Sepp Blatter, I should be the next one to be beheaded.' Sepp Blatter announced his resignation four days after being re-elected as FIFA president on June 2. He intends to remain in this position until a successor is elected and to implement reforms within FIFA. However, due to the extent of the financial scandal at high levels of FIFA, pressure for Blatter's resignation has increased. A week before the announcement of Blatter's resignation, Swiss police arrested seven senior FIFA officials in Zurich based on a U.S. indictment. It appears that these arrests are related to bribery for awarding World Cup hosting rights, and further indictments against more officials may follow in the ongoing U.S. investigation. According to Reuters, FIFA's Secretary General stated on Wednesday, 'Given the current circumstances, I believe starting the voting process and selecting the host for the 2026 World Cup is meaningless and will be postponed.' The decision regarding the 2026 World Cup hosting was supposed to be made at FIFA's 2017 meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Vitaly Mutko, Russia's Minister of Sports, stated during an event in Samara that the country does not feel any threat regarding hosting the 2018 World Cup and that the awarding of this tournament was entirely legal. Jerome Valcke also mentioned that preparations for the tournament in Russia are proceeding well and there is no evidence to suggest that Russia's hosting of the event violated FIFA's laws and regulations. Michel Platini, the president of the European Football Confederation, welcomed FIFA's decision to delay the selection process for the World Cup host in his first press conference after Blatter's resignation. Platini stated, 'This is completely normal, as FIFA currently lacks leadership and any important decision should be postponed.' Meanwhile, the German Football Association has proposed a very radical plan for reforming FIFA, which is likely to face opposition from many non-European FIFA members. The president of the German Football Association stated that Blatter's continued presidency at FIFA is neither in his interest nor in the interest of global football. The German Football Association emphasizes in its proposal the need to cleanse all illegal elements and practices within FIFA, increase transparency in decision-making, income, and expenses of the organization, and believes that the voting influence of each member should be determined based on their weight and role in global football. Under the current system, each of the 209 FIFA member countries has equal voting rights, meaning that the influence of historically significant countries like Germany or Brazil is equal to that of smaller countries like Pacific island nations with no football history. FIFA has not yet made a final decision on the timing of the general congress and the selection of Blatter's successor. However, it is said that this meeting may take place between December of this year and March of next year.