Musqueam welcomes FIFA Congress delegates
Chief Wayne Sparrow, Councillor Alec Guerin and Councillor Morgan Guerin welcomed special guests attending the FIFA Congress last week. They were also joined by YVR’s Musqueam staff and Musqueam cultural representatives who share a welcome song.
FIFA Congress is the legislative body of the International Association Football Federation that meets once a year. Vancouver hosted the 76th gathering on April 30, 2026.
Musqueam welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA Senior Vice-President and Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Oceania Football Confederation President Lambert Maltock and the Fijian delegation, and His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was deeply moved when presented with a beautifully crafted Musqueam blanket upon arrival.
FIFA Congress: Youth Soccer Clinic & Legends Match
On April 29 afternoon, you could feel the excitement at the Musqueam Community Centre when youth gathered for a soccer clinic as part of FIFA Congress 2026. Energized by a nutritious lunch prepared by Courtenay Gibson and the Rec team, and accompanied by chaperones Atziee Candy and Faren Sam, they boarded the bus to UBC.
It was a perfect spring day, and our players join youth from Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, many of whom are friends and have played together. They were in for a treat, as former Whitecaps and Canada national team players Russell Teibert and Jackson Farmer, along with other coaches, led them through a series of stations that included soccer golf and various drills. Each player received a certificate and a mini FIFA soccer ball as a nice way to remember this experience.
After the youth clinic, Chief Sparrow and the Musqueam drummers welcomed the crowd before the FIFA Legends match, a congress tradition that featured Legends like Samuel Eto’o, Javier Pastore, Cafu, Cobi Jones, Jorge Campos, Dwayne De Rosario, Martin Nash, Rob Friend, Craig Forrest, Hristo Stoichkov, Nuno Gomes and Demetrio Albertini.
FIFA Congress Gala Dinner Celebration
On April 29, Chief Wayne Sparrow, accompanied by Musqueam drummers Alec Dan and John Stogan, attended the FIFA Congress Gala Dinner Celebration at Canada Place with representatives from Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh. As Host City Supporters of the FIFA World Cup 2026, we opened the evening by welcoming the international delegates to the event.
To honour FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Chief Sparrow gifted him a Musqueam drum, which was crafted by Kelly Louis and decorated by Christina Nahanee. In return, President Infantino presented Chief Sparrow with a customized FIFA banner as a symbol of gratitude for the warm welcome to Musqueam territory.
