CAS Releases Arbitration Rules Governing FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Competition

CAS published the Arbitration Rules for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Competition. The Rules govern the arbitration of disputes arising during the FIFA World Cup between 11 June and 19 July 2026. The Rules establish an ad hoc Division of CAS for the duration of the FIFA World Cup.

The Division comprises arbitrators selected from a special list of CAS football arbitrators, together with a President, Deputy President and a Court Office. The ad hoc Division will serve as the final appeal body during the FIFA World Cup 2026, enabling disputes covered under Article 50 of the FIFA Statutes to be resolved on an expedited basis during and in connection with the competition. The seat of arbitration is Lausanne, Switzerland, while proceedings are governed by Chapter 12 of the Swiss Act on Private International Law. Arbitration may be conducted in English, French or Spanish.

Any individual or legal entity wishing to bring a dispute before the ad hoc Division must submit a written application electronically to the CAS Court Office. The application must include the challenged decision, where applicable, a statement of facts and legal arguments, the relief sought, comments based on the CAS’s jurisdiction, and any request for interim relief. The Rules further require that all internal legal remedies available under the FIFA framework be exhausted before an application is filed.

The Rules empower the President of the ad hoc Division to appoint either a sole arbitrator or a three-member Panel from the special list of arbitrators. The Rules also provide a mechanism for challenging or removing arbitrators where circumstances give rise to legitimate doubts regarding their independence or impartiality.

A framework for urgent interim relief has also been incorporated. In cases of extreme urgency, the President of the ad hoc Division or the Panel may grant a stay of the challenged decision or any other preliminary relief without first hearing the respondent. While deciding such requests, the Rules require consideration of factors including the likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm and the balance of interests.

The Rules prescribe an expedited procedure for dispute resolution. Hearings may be conducted immediately after receipt of an application, including through videoconference or telephone conference. The Panel may also dispense with a hearing altogether where it considers itself sufficiently informed to render an award. It is further empowered to appoint experts, order the production of documents and determine the admissibility and weight of evidence.

The Panel is required to determine disputes in accordance with the FIFA Regulations and, additionally, Swiss law. It must ordinarily deliver its decision within 48 hours of the lodging of the application, although the President of the ad hoc Division may extend this period in exceptional circumstances. FIFA has stated that this expedited timeline is intended to ensure that disputes affecting the tournament are resolved without disrupting the competition schedule.

The Rules further provide that the Panel may either render a final award or refer the dispute, wholly or partly, to the ordinary CAS procedure where the complexity of the matter or the extent of evidence so requires. Any interim relief granted by the ad hoc Division may continue pending determination under the regular CAS procedure.

The awards rendered under the Rules become immediately enforceable upon communication to the parties and are not subject to appeal or any other remedy. The Rules also prescribe the allocation of arbitration costs and clarify that appeals against FIFA disciplinary decisions shall remain free of charge, with arbitrators’ fees and costs borne by CAS.

Finally, the Rules provide that they form an integral part of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration and, in the event of any inconsistency, shall prevail over the Code as the special procedural framework governing disputes arising during the FIFA World Cup 2026.