UEFA Congress

Role

The UEFA Congress is the supreme controlling organ of UEFA and brings together presidents and general secretaries representing each of our 55 member associations to make decisions that help shape European football. With the serving UEFA president chairing the proceedings, participants discuss and vote on decisions, measures and proposals from both the governing body and associations.

Typically held over one day, congresses may be ordinary or extraordinary. Ordinary congresses meet annually, while an extraordinary congress may be convened by the UEFA Executive Committee, or at the written request of one fifth or more of our member associations. A second ordinary congress can also be called by the Executive Committee to address financial matters and/or matters of particular significance.

Aleksander Čeferin addresses the 49th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Belgrade, SerbiaUEFA via Getty Images

Venue

All congresses have been hosted by a member association, except for the 4th Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The 49th UEFA Ordinary Congress took place on 3 April 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia. Brussels, Belgium, is the venue for the 50th edition, taking place on 12 February 2026.

As of 2025, 32 different European cities have hosted 49 ordinary congresses, while the 13 extraordinary congresses have taken place in 10 cities – a total of 62 congresses in 37 locations.

First-ever Congress

Vienna, Austria, hosted our first congress on 2 March 1955, a year after UEFA was founded, while the first extraordinary congress was held on 11 December 1959 in Paris. Until 1968, these meetings were known as general assemblies. From 1958 to 2002, our congresses took place every two years.

Responsibilities

Each of UEFA's 55 member associations has one vote at the congress. As well as electing our president, Executive Committee members and European members of the FIFA Council, the congress:

• Receives the UEFA annual report 

• Acknowledges the financial report and the auditors' report, and approves the annual accounts and budget

• Confirms Executive Committee members elected by the European Club Association (ECA) and European Leagues (EL)

• Appoints the external auditors

• Votes on amendments to the UEFA Statutes

• Considers and decides on proposals

As needed, the UEFA Congress also considers:

• Applications for UEFA membership, or even the suspension of an association. It can also decide to lift or continue the suspension of a member association, Executive Committee member or a member of another body.

• Calls for the dismissal of a UEFA Executive Committee member or members of the UEFA disciplinary bodies, (Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, Appeals Body), ethics and disciplinary inspectors, and Club Financial Control Body.

• Proposals to award honorary UEFA membership to individuals for outstanding service to European football.

Download

UEFA Statutes and the UEFA Congress Rules of Procedure: articles 12 to 20

What other UEFA meetings bring all 55 association presidents and/or general secretaries together?

The Top Executive Programme (TEP), which normally takes place once every two years, and the annual national association general secretary meeting. Both these forums put UEFA’s senior management in a room with the national association leaders. The floor is open with the focus on football development. For example, discussing new ideas or identifying solutions to emerging issues.

Some of UEFA’s most crucial decisions are a product of the TEP. They include the centralisation of media rights and the creation or expansion of European competitions, as well as smaller impact initiatives like our Kit Assistance Scheme. Our HatTrick development programme is also regularly reviewed at the TEP.

The 2025 national association general secretary meeting is scheduled for September. With the last TEP held in September 2024, the next will take place in 2026.