Kuala Lumpur to Host 2017 FIFA Congress

World Soccer’s governing body, FIFA have revealed Kuala Lumpur will host the 2017 FIFA Congress.

The Malaysian capital city was competing against bids from Costa Rica, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Palestine, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates but Malaysia was picked ahead of the others.

Malaysia will be the first Asian country to host the congress since South Korea in 2002.

FA of Malaysia (FAM) general-secretary Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said it is a huge honour for Malaysia to host the prestigious event.

“We will welcome 209 member associations. It is an opportunity to show Fifa our country, and it will definitely be a springboard for our tourism industry,” said Hamidin yesterday.

“We have modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities and I believe the delegates will have a good time here.”

On the benefits of hosting the congress, Hamidin said FAM would gain from other member associations on several aspects of football.

“We need to continue improving and stay on the right platform with other associations.”

Next year’s congress will take place in Sao Paulo just before the World Cup while in 2015, the year of Fifa’s presidential election, the meeting will, as in previous election years, be held in Zurich followed by Mexico in 2016.