What is FIFA?
FIFA stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association. It was founded in Paris in 1904 — that's over 120 years ago. Its headquarters is in Zurich, Switzerland.
FIFA has more member nations than the United Nations. Football is genuinely the world's game — every country on earth plays it.
What Does FIFA Do?
- 🏆Organises the World Cup — The FIFA World Cup is the biggest single-sport event on the planet. It happens every 4 years and is watched by billions.
- 📊Publishes world rankings — FIFA releases official rankings for both men's and women's teams. These are used to seed tournaments and show how good each national team is.
- 📋Sets the rules of the game — Football has 17 laws. FIFA works with the IFAB (International Football Association Board) to decide and update them. Every league in the world plays by the same rules.
- 🌍Develops football worldwide — FIFA funds football development in poorer countries — coaching programmes, building pitches, and helping national federations grow.
FIFA's 6 Confederations
FIFA divides the world into 6 regions called confederations. Each confederation organises its own competitions and qualifications for the World Cup.
55 member countries. Home of the European Championship (Euros) and the UEFA Nations League.
10 member countries. Organises the Copa América — the oldest international tournament in the world.
54 member countries. Organises the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) — one of the most passionate tournaments in football.
47 member countries. Organises the AFC Asian Cup and the Women's Asian Cup.
41 member countries. Includes USA, Mexico, and Canada. Organises the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League.
14 member countries. The smallest confederation. New Zealand and Australia are the best-known teams.