What is FIFA?
FIFA — the Fédération Internationale de Football Association — is the world governing body of soccer: founded in Paris in 1904, headquartered in Zurich, and uniting 211 national associations through six continental confederations.[1] [2]
What does FIFA govern?
The World Cups — men's, women's, youth, futsal, beach and the club edition; the international match calendar; the world rankings; and the global machinery of the professional game itself: player registration, the international Transfer Matching System (TMS) and the International Transfer Certificate that accompanies every cross-border move, plus agent licensing and the transfer disputes tribunal. It shares the Laws of the Game with IFAB, where it holds half the votes.[2] [3]
When was it founded and who leads it?
Founded May 21, 1904 by seven European associations; president Gianni Infantino has led it since 2016, re-elected unopposed in 2023. Its Congress — one vote per association — is among the largest governing assemblies in world sport.[1] [2]
Why does FIFA matter?
Every professional player's career runs through FIFA systems: registration with a member association, recorded transfers, and eligibility for FIFA-sanctioned competition. Its World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on the planet, and its documents — rankings, match records, transfer records — are the sport's primary sources.[2] [4]
References
- FIFA — History of FIFA. Accessed August 2026.
- FIFA — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- IFAB — The International Football Association Board. Accessed August 2026.
- FIFA — Men's World Ranking. Accessed August 2026.