It is my pleasure to welcome you to the FIFA Executive Council; a committee built around a game that extends far beyond ninety minutes on the pitch. It is an absolute honor to host such a committee centered around something that, for billions across the world, has always been more than just a game. Football has the rare ability to make entire cities celebrate, generations dream, and people separated by borders, languages, and cultures come together and unite through a shared passion for the game. Yet the game we know is changing. Unprecedented commercial growth, expanding financial influence, emerging technologies, and football continued globalization are creating opportunities that previous generations could scarcely have imagined—while placing the values and traditions that shaped the sport under increasing pressure. The decisions surrounding its future are no longer simply sporting decisions; they affect players, clubs, supporters, institutions, and communities across the world. Throughout this conference, you will carry more than the name of a stakeholder. You will carry its history, ambitions, responsibilities, and vision for what football should become. There will be no perfect decision. Every expansion creates a trade-off, every reform has consequences, and every ambition will encounter another. Your challenge is therefore not simply to change football, but to determine which changes are worth making and what must be protected along the way. Debate boldly. Negotiate strategically. Build unlikely alliances and challenge ideas you once considered unquestionable. But above all, remember that the decisions you make should serve something greater than any individual club, institution, or interest: the future of the game itself. This committee was designed to be dynamic, strategic, and unpredictable. Use every opportunity available to you, but remember that influence is most powerful when used with purpose. I look forward to seeing what future you choose to build. See you soon!

Mohammad Ali Hariri
FIFA President