Istanbul: Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu announced on Tuesday that FIFA’s office in Istanbul will be inaugurated “as soon as possible.”
According to Anadolu Agency, TFF is currently experiencing its strongest relationship period with both FIFA and UEFA. UEFA had previously opened its Istanbul office in April 2025 to support major tournaments. This office will play a pivotal role in coordinating the UEFA Europa League final in 2026, the UEFA Conference League final in 2027, and the UEFA European Championship (EURO 2032), which Turkey will co-host with Italy.
Haciosmanoglu emphasized the strong ties between the Turkish Football Federation and these governing bodies, stating, “The Turkish Football Federation is experiencing its strongest period in its history with FIFA and UEFA.” He also mentioned a special friendship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
Infantino had previously met with US President Donald Trump as part of the 2026 World Cup preparations, and later visited Turkey to present the World Cup to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Haciosmanoglu confirmed, “The decision has been made. The location has also been determined. Our president has given instructions to the minister for the allocation procedures. We will open FIFA’s office in Istanbul as soon as possible.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the tournament starting on June 11. Turkey is set to compete in Group D against the United States, Paraguay, and Australia. Haciosmanoglu expressed confidence in Turkey’s performance, stating his desire to face Spain in the final, while acknowledging the possibility of meeting them in the semifinals.
Regarding the possibility of Turkey hosting EURO 2032 alone, Haciosmanoglu addressed UEFA Chief Ceferin’s concerns over Italy’s football infrastructure, stating, “I do not want to be unfair to Italy by saying this. We have friends there. We also have good relations with their federation.” He emphasized the importance of patience and respect, indicating that discussions about hosting the event solely should wait.