50th UEFA Ordinary Congress

The UEFA Congress, established as the supreme decision-making body in the institutional structure of European football, has functioned since its inception as a platform uniting the national federations of the continent under a single umbrella. The process, which began in the 1950s with the aim of creating a common framework for European football, was institutionalized through regular congress meetings and gradually became the primary forum for adopting both administrative and sporting decisions. The 50th Ordinary UEFA Congress, marking the fiftieth milestone in this historical trajectory, was held on 12 February 2026 in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

The first UEFA Congress took place on 2 March 1955 in Vienna, the capital of Austria. The European football union, whose foundations were laid at a meeting held in Basel on 15 June 1954, solidified its institutional structure through this inaugural general assembly. Twenty-nine European national federations attended the Vienna meeting; with the addition of Poland, the number rose to thirty. At the same meeting, the Turkish Football Federation was admitted as a member.

At the first congress, draft statutes were approved, the structure of the Executive Committee was expanded, and the principle of granting each federation one vote was adopted. Among UEFA’s objectives were establishing a unified stance before FIFA, selecting representatives to represent Europe at FIFA, and organizing continental competitions. The idea of a club-level European competition was also introduced at this meeting; the process leading to the creation of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup began in the following months.

At the 1958 Congress in Stockholm, a decision was made to launch the European Nations Cup, thereby placing the continental competition for national teams on a formal institutional footing. Starting in 1968, the term “General Assembly” was replaced with “UEFA Congress.” Between 1958 and 2002, congresses were held every two years; thereafter, the system shifted to annual ordinary meetings.

The UEFA Congress is the highest decision-making body, bringing together the presidents and general secretaries of the 55 member federations across Europe. Each member federation holds one vote. The Congress has the authority to elect the UEFA President, members of the Executive Committee, and representatives of Europe to the FIFA Council.

The Congress reviews annual activity and financial reports, approves the budget, votes on amendments to the statutes, appoints external auditors, and adopts various proposals. Applications for membership, as well as suspensions or expulsions from membership, also fall within the Congress’s jurisdiction. Honorary membership may also be conferred during its sessions.

^{Belgium, Brussels (AA)}

As of 2026, a total of 63 congresses — 50 ordinary and 13 extraordinary — have been held in 38 different cities. The first congress was held in Vienna in 1955; the 50th ordinary congress took place in Brussels on 12 February 2026.

^{UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin (AA)}

The 50th Ordinary UEFA Congress was held on 12 February 2026 at Brussels Expo Hall 3 in Brussels, Belgium. The Congress commenced at 10:00 and concluded at approximately 12:30. Following the meeting, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin held a press conference. On the same day at 18:00, the draw for the league stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League was also conducted at the same venue. Prior to the Congress, the UEFA Executive Committee met in Brussels on 11 February 2026. During the ordinary session held on the morning of 12 February, representatives of all European federations, the FIFA President, and senior officials were present. At the Brussels meeting, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin awarded honorary membership to Fernando Gomes.

The 50th Ordinary Congress in Brussels was attended by Ibrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, President of the Turkish Football Federation; Zehra Neşe Kavak, Vice President of the Federation; Çağrı Kanver, Acting Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee; and Buğra İmamoğulları, Director of Administrative Affairs for Foreign Relations and National Teams.

The Turkish Football Federation was among the federations admitted to UEFA membership at the first Congress held in Vienna on 2 March 1955. Thus, Turkey has been represented in all UEFA Congress processes since the organization’s founding.

^{FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left) delivered a speech (AA)}

At the opening of the Congress, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin delivered a speech in which he noted that Real Madrid and Barcelona had withdrawn from the European Super League project and rejoined the UEFA structure. He expressed opposition to the practice of playing domestic league matches abroad and emphasized the importance of preserving the traditional ties of domestic leagues.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also addressed the Congress. He referred to the agreement reached between UEFA, the European Club Association, and Real Madrid, highlighting the importance of unity in action. He further stated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and would feature 48 teams.

^{Following the speeches, a moment of silence was observed in memory of figures from the football world who have passed away (AA)}

A moment of silence was observed at the 50th Ordinary UEFA Congress in memory of football personalities who passed away in member countries. Football figures from Türkiye who died were also commemorated.

This commemoration segment was conducted as part of the opening program of the Congress, honoring the losses of the European football family through a collective ceremony.