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Continental Confederation · Soccer · Europe

UEFA — Union of European Football Associations

Europe's soccer confederation since 1954 — 55 national associations, the Champions League, and the Euro.
✓ Last reviewed: August 2026
RoleEuropean confederation of FIFA
Founded1954, Basel
HeadquartersNyon, Switzerland
Members55 national associations
FlagshipsChampions League · Euro · Europa League · Nations League

What is UEFA?

UEFA — the Union of European Football Associations — is the European confederation of FIFA: founded in Basel in 1954, headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, and uniting the 55 national associations of European soccer.[1]

What does UEFA govern?

European club competition — the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Women's Champions League — and the continent's national-team calendar: the Euro, the Nations League, and Europe's qualifiers for the World Cup. It also licenses clubs and enforces financial rules across its leagues.[1][2]

When was it founded and who leads it?

Founded June 15, 1954; led since 2016 by Aleksander Čeferin of Slovenia, re-elected unopposed in 2023.[1][3]

Why does UEFA matter?

Its competitions are the summit of club soccer worldwide — the Champions League is the game's most prestigious club title — and its member leagues employ the largest share of the world's elite professionals.[1][2]

References

  1. UEFA — official site. Accessed August 2026.
  2. UEFA — About UEFA. Accessed August 2026.
  3. UEFA — Aleksander Čeferin re-elected as UEFA President. Accessed August 2026.