The 2024 World Congress of the Federation International Football Skating (FIFS) was successfully held on 23 November 2024 in Trabzon, Türkiye, bringing together presidents, delegates, and official representatives from 30 countries. The event took place during the World Cup period and served as a major global platform for development, governance, and the future direction of Football Skating.

The congress was attended by senior officials of the global federation, including:
• Dr. Mehdi Salman Pour, President of FIFS
• Mr. Almir Falcão, Vice President for Footins, Brazil
• Mr. Zack Phillips, Vice President for Roller Soccer, USA
• Members of the World Congress Secretariat, committees, continental representatives, and national presidents

During the opening session, Dr. Mehdi Salman Pour highlighted the federation’s commitment to gender equality in Football Skating, describing it as one of the sport’s core values. He emphasized that Football Skating is one of the rare team sports in which men and women compete together, reflecting a modern and inclusive vision for global sport. “This sport represents a beautiful model of equality,” he stated, reaffirming that FIFS will continue strengthening female participation at all competitive and developmental levels.

One of the major topics discussed was the successful debut of the Junior World Cup, held for the first time in Trabzon. Dr. Salman Pour confirmed that junior competitions will now be a permanent feature of every future World Cup cycle. He noted that youth development is essential for the sport’s long-term growth and praised the quality and excitement displayed by junior teams during the 2024 edition.

A historic milestone was also announced at the congress: the official unveiling of the world’s first Football Skating Size 5.5 ball, developed exclusively by IPTC. The new ball was introduced and used for the first time during the 2024 Football Skating World Cup, receiving excellent feedback from athletes and officials. The new Size 5.5 standard is now officially adopted for all future World Cups and major international events.

Congress discussions also covered preparations for the next World Cup cycle. According to Dr. Salman Pour, the 2026 Football Skating World Cup is expected to be “three times larger than the 2024 edition,” featuring an expanded field of 32 to 48 national teams and setting new global records in participation, media coverage, and organizational scale. The host of the next World Cup is expected to become a Guinness World Record holder for staging the largest Football Skating event in history.

The federation announced new policies requiring all continental championships to be held on schedule prior to the 2026 World Cup. In parallel, FIFS and IPTC plan to promote the sport in over 200 countries, supported by an extensive international media strategy.

A major attraction of future editions will be the Cultural & Commercial Exhibition, organized by IPTC during the World Cup under the direct supervision of FIFS. This exhibition will bring together brands, cultural delegations, and sports innovators, making the World Cup not only a sporting competition but a global festival.

Further announcements included the planned introduction of new disciplines under the umbrella of FIFS. These disciplines are currently in development and will be unveiled in the near future as part of the federation’s long-term expansion strategy.

As the official development partner of FIFS, IPTC reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Football Skating worldwide. IPTC will continue leading international programs in coaching education, referee training, federation registration support, club development, and coordination for future World Cup host selections. The organization announced that it will spare no effort in supporting FIFS to elevate Football Skating into a major global sport.

The 2024 World Congress concluded with strong consensus, renewed vision, and ambitious plans for the years ahead—setting the stage for a new era of global growth for Football Skating.