The capital of Kazakhstan will be the venue where the new leadership of European football will be determined. On April 22, 2027, the 51st UEFA Congress will be held in Astana, during which the organization's president and members of the Executive Committee will be elected, according to infohub.kz.
As reported by the press service of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of all 55 national football associations that are members of UEFA, as well as the organization's leadership, FIFA delegates, European leagues, clubs, and other sports structures, will attend the Congress.
"Granting Kazakhstan the right to host such a large-scale event confirms the high level of trust from UEFA and recognition of the country's capabilities in organizing major international sporting events," the ministry noted.
The ministry clarified that UEFA will cover all organizational expenses.
The Congress will take place amid active changes in Kazakhstani football. The country is upgrading sports infrastructure, developing youth football, and reforming the management system of professional clubs. Already 11 clubs operate under a new model with private investment, with over 80 billion tenge invested in their development. In the near future, eight more clubs are planned to be transferred to this system.
Earlier, it became known that French club Paris Saint-Germain will open its football academy in Kazakhstan. This is expected to help train young players according to modern international standards.
Hosting the UEFA Congress and opening the PSG academy are two more steps towards Kazakhstan strengthening its position on the European football map.
Previously, Kursiv reported that all 55 national associations that are members of UEFA stated that their national teams will not participate in tournaments under the auspices of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) until it abandons the idea of transferring part of the rights to the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. For more on what exactly FIFA plans to sell to investors and why UEFA has announced a boycott, read here.