The President of Argentina, Javier Milei, and FIA President H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem have officially opened the 2026 FIA American Congress in Buenos Aires, bringing together FIA Member Clubs from across the Americas to advance the future of mobility and motor sport.

President Milei joined President Ben Sulayem and representatives from 32 FIA Member Clubs from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean at the opening of the three-day Congress, hosted by the Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA).

Ahead of the opening, President Ben Sulayem met with President Milei, with discussions focused on the opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the FIA and Argentina across both mobility and motorsport. The two Presidents discussed Argentina’s ambitions for the continued growth of motorsport, including Formula One and the FIA’s five other World Championships, building on a proud racing heritage and passionate fanbase.

They also discussed the rapidly changing mobility landscape and the importance of collaboration between governments, FIA Member Clubs and industry to deliver safer, more accessible and more sustainable transport for road users.

The meeting continued a series of high-level engagements by the FIA President across South America, following meetings with President José Antonio Kast of Chile and President Santiago Peña of Paraguay in recent days, as the Federation works with governments and its Member Clubs to grow motorsport and strengthen mobility across the region.

Opening the Congress, the President of Argentina Javier Milei said: “The Automóvil Club Argentino has made an enormous contribution to national motorsport, and Argentina is a country that loves cars. The Argentine passion for racing is timeless.

“That is why I invite you to dream with me. Argentina has all the conditions necessary to once again welcome Formula One and the World Rally Championship onto its calendar. We have the tradition. We have the drivers. And now we are once again developing the institutional seriousness that these categories demand before choosing a country. We have absolutely everything.

“It is time to accelerate at full speed in this direction, and I invite you to make this [FIA American] Congress the first step towards that return. Because at the end of the day, the freedom to move, to choose the car you drive, the route you take and the destination you want to reach is one of the most concrete and everyday expressions of freedom.

“Today, we welcome you with those same roads, more open than ever, and with the same conviction that anyone who wants to move, compete or build in Argentina should be able to do so in freedom.

“Let us move forward together at full speed to turn this dream into reality.”

FIA President H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “It was an honour to meet with President Milei and to open the FIA American Congress together here in Buenos Aires. Argentina has an extraordinary history in motorsport and a passionate community of fans, competitors and volunteers. We discussed how we can build on that heritage, create new opportunities for the next generation and support Argentina’s ambition to bring more international motor sport to the country.

“Across mobility too, this is a region undergoing significant change. Our Member Clubs are at the heart of that transformation, and this Congress is about bringing their knowledge together, sharing solutions and ensuring the FIA continues to deliver for road users and motor sport communities across the Americas.”

The Congress is being hosted by the Automóvil Club Argentino, one of the FIA’s long-standing Member Clubs with over 122 years of operations in the country, playing a central role in the development of both mobility and motorsport across Argentina.

President of the Automóvil Club Argentino, César C. Carman, said: “It is a great honour for the Automóvil Club Argentino to welcome President Milei, President Ben Sulayem and our fellow FIA Member Clubs to Buenos Aires.

“Argentina has a deep connection with the automobile and with motorsport, and we are proud of the role the ACA has played throughout that history. This Congress gives us an important opportunity to look forward together, sharing ideas and strengthening cooperation so that we can continue to serve road users and grow motorsport both here in Argentina and across the Americas.”

From 31 August to 2 September, the FIA American Congress will provide a platform for FIA Member Clubs to share expertise and develop solutions around some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing motorsport and mobility across the region.

Discussions will span road safety, sustainable and accessible mobility, the development of AI and new automotive technologies, and the changing needs of road users, alongside the continued growth and accessibility of motorsport across the region.

Argentina provides a fitting backdrop. Motorsport is deeply embedded in the country’s culture, from five-time FIA Formula One World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio to current Formula One driver Franco Colapinto and the country’s thriving national competition scene across touring cars, rallying, karting and single-seaters.

Alongside its sporting heritage, Argentina is one of Latin America’s most significant mobility markets, with more than 15 million vehicles, an extensive road network and a major domestic automotive industry.

Throughout the Congress, the FIA will also recognise the work of its Member Clubs, with the FIA Innovation Challenge 2026 Regional Champions for Regions III and IV and the recipient of the José Abed Award set to be announced.

The American Congress is the second of four FIA regional meetings taking place in 2026, forming part of the Federation’s work to empower its 246 Member Clubs and strengthen collaboration across its global motorsport and mobility network.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Geri Sherwin, Director of Presidential & Mobility Communications: gsherwin@fia.com
• Joe Kidd, Presidential Communications Officer: jkidd@fia.com

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.

Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 246 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including seven FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.