FIFA facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
FIFA

Map of FIFA members by confederation
Founded	21 May 1904; 121 years ago (1904-05-21)
Founder	Robert Guérin
Founded at	Paris, France
Type	International sports federation
Headquarters	Global office: Zurich, Switzerland Continental offices: Rabat, Morocco (CAF) Jakarta, Indonesia (AFC)
Membership	211 national associations
President	Gianni Infantino
Senior vice-president	Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC)
Vice-presidents	Alejandro Domínguez (CONMEBOL) Aleksander Čeferin (UEFA) Lambert Maltock (OFC) Patrice Motsepe (CAF) Victor Montagliani (CONCACAF) Sándor Csányi (UEFA) Debbie Hewitt (UEFA)
Secretary general	Mattias Grafström
Main organ	FIFA Congress
Subsidiaries	AFC (Asia and Australia) CAF (Africa) CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) CONMEBOL (South America) OFC (Oceania) UEFA (Europe)
Affiliations	International Olympic Committee International Football Association Board
Staff	700+

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, known as FIFA, is the main group that runs international football. It also manages beach soccer and futsal. FIFA was started on May 21, 1904. Its goal was to organize games between national teams.

When it began, FIFA had members from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Today, FIFA's main office is in Zurich, Switzerland. It now includes 211 national football groups from all over the world. These groups must also be part of one of the six regional football groups.

FIFA wants to help football grow around the world. It aims to make sure everyone can play. FIFA also promotes fair play and honesty in the sport. It organizes big international football events. These include the FIFA World Cup, which started in 1930. It also runs the FIFA Women's World Cup, which began in 1991.

FIFA helps make sure the rules of football are followed. It works with another group called the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to do this. FIFA earns money from sponsorships for its tournaments. In 2022, FIFA made over US$5.8 billion.

The Story of FIFA: How it Started

As football became more popular in the early 1900s, there was a need for one group to manage it. FIFA was founded in Paris, France, on May 21, 1904. Its full French name and short name (FIFA) are used everywhere. The first countries to join were Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Germany also joined soon after.

The first president of FIFA was Robert Guérin. He was replaced in 1906 by Daniel Burley Woolfall from England. FIFA held its first tournament at the 1908 Olympics in London. This event was very successful.

FIFA grew quickly beyond Europe. South Africa joined in 1909, Argentina in 1912, and Canada and Chile in 1913. The United States joined in 1914.

During World War I, many players went to war. It was hard to travel for international games. This made FIFA's future uncertain. After the war, Carl Hirschmann helped keep the organization going. The first World Cup was held in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

What Makes FIFA Special?

FIFA's Flag

Fédération internationale de football association

Use	Sport
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	2018; 7 years ago (2018)
Design	Blue field with a FIFA logo

The FIFA flag is blue. It has the FIFA logo in the middle. This flag was first seen at the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow, Russia.

FIFA's Anthem

FIFA has its own special song, like the UEFA Champions League. This anthem was created by German composer Franz Lambert. It has been used since the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The FIFA Anthem is played at the start of all official FIFA games and tournaments.

This includes the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup. It is also played at youth World Cups and other major events. Since 2007, TV channels showing FIFA events often use parts of the anthem. This helps promote FIFA's sponsors.

Who Leads FIFA? The Presidents

No	Name	Country	Took office	Left office	Note
1	Robert Guérin	France	23 May 1904	4 June 1906
2	Daniel Burley Woolfall	England	4 June 1906	24 October 1918	Died in office
—	Cornelis August Wilhelm Hirschman	Netherlands	24 October 1918	1920	Acting
3	Jules Rimet	France	1 March 1921	21 June 1954
4	Rodolphe Seeldrayers	Belgium	21 June 1954	7 October 1955	Died in office
5	Arthur Drewry	England	9 June 1956	25 March 1961	Died in office
—	Ernst Thommen	Switzerland	25 March 1961	28 September 1961	Acting
6	Stanley Rous	England	28 September 1961	8 May 1974
7	João Havelange	Brazil	8 May 1974	8 June 1998
8	Sepp Blatter	Switzerland	8 June 1998	8 October 2015	Removed from office
—	Issa Hayatou	Cameroon	8 October 2015	26 February 2016	Acting
9	Gianni Infantino	Italy  Switzerland	26 February 2016	Incumbent

How FIFA is Organized

Six Main Regions and Many Countries

FIFA works with six main groups that manage football in different parts of the world. These are called confederations. Each country's football group is a member of FIFA. They also have to be part of one of these regional confederations.

• Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for Asia.
• Confederation of African Football (CAF) for Africa.
• CONCACAF for North, Central America, and the Caribbean.
• CONMEBOL for South America.
• Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) for Oceania.
• UEFA for Europe.

FIFA has 211 national football groups as members. This is more than the number of countries in the United Nations. This is because FIFA also includes groups from places that are not independent countries. Examples are the four parts of the United Kingdom and regions like Hong Kong.

FIFA can stop countries from playing in international games. This might happen if a government tries to control the country's football group. It can also happen if there are problems with how the group is run. For example, Russia was suspended from all competitions in 2022.

FIFA also keeps track of how well men's and women's teams are doing. They publish rankings every month or quarter. These rankings show which teams are the best based on their game results.

Rules and How FIFA is Run

FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland

FIFA's main office is in Zürich, Switzerland. It is set up under Swiss law.

The highest decision-making group in FIFA is the FIFA Congress. This is where representatives from every member country meet. Each country's football group gets one vote. The Congress meets once a year. It makes decisions about FIFA's rules and how they are used. Only the Congress can change FIFA's main rules.

The Congress also approves reports and accepts new member countries. It holds elections for the President of FIFA and other leaders. The FIFA Council helps make decisions between Congress meetings. It has 37 members, including the President and vice-presidents.

The President and General Secretary manage FIFA's daily work. Gianni Infantino is the current President. He was elected in 2016. FIFA also has other groups that help with specific tasks. These include committees for ethics, money, and referees.

How Football Rules are Made and Used

The rules of football are called the Laws of the Game. FIFA does not make these rules alone. They are managed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). FIFA has four members on this board. The other four members come from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These countries helped create football and IFAB in 1882. To change a rule, at least six of the eight delegates must agree.

FIFA's main rules are in its Statutes. These rules divide power among different groups. This helps make sure everything is fair and balanced. The main groups are the Congress, the FIFA Council, the General Secretariat, and various committees.

Fair Play and Technology in Games

FIFA actively works to develop football worldwide. It can suspend national teams from international games. This happens if a government tries to interfere with its country's football group.

For a long time, FIFA did not allow video replays during matches. But this changed on March 3, 2018. Now, video assistant referees (VARs) can be used to help referees. Their use is optional for competitions.

In 2012, FIFA also approved goal-line technology. This technology helps decide if the ball has fully crossed the goal line. This decision came after a famous moment in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A shot by England's Frank Lampard crossed the line, but the referee did not see it. This showed how important technology could be.

Awards and Recognition from FIFA

FIFA holds an annual awards ceremony called The Best FIFA Football Awards. This event started in 2016. It celebrates the best players and teams in international football. The top male player receives The Best FIFA Men's Player award. The top female player receives The Best FIFA Women's Player award. Other awards include The Best FIFA Football Coach.

In 2000, FIFA gave out special awards for the greatest football club and player of the 20th century. Real Madrid was named the best club. Diego Maradona and Pelé were both chosen as the best players.

Different Types of Football FIFA Manages

• Association football: Recognized since 1904 (men) and 1988 (women).
• Futsal: Recognized since 1986 (men) and 2023 (women).
• Esports: Recognized since 2004.
• Beach soccer: Recognized since 2005 (men) and 2019 (women).

FIFA Tournaments

Tournaments for National Teams Men's Teams FIFA World Cup FIFA U-20 World Cup (for players under 20) FIFA U-17 World Cup (for players under 17) FIFA Futsal World Cup Men's Youth Olympic Futsal Tournament (U-18) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup FIFA Arab Cup (for senior teams from Arab countries) FIFA Series (friendly matches) Women's Teams FIFA Women's World Cup FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (for players under 20) FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup (for players under 17) FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Women's Youth Olympic Futsal Tournament (U-18)

Tournaments for Clubs Men's Clubs FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Intercontinental Cup FIFA Youth Cup Women's Clubs FIFA Women's Club World Cup FIFA Women's Champions Cup Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup

eSports Tournaments Individual FIFAe World Cup Team FIFAe Club World Cup FIFAe Nations Cup FIFAe Continental Cup Past Tournaments FIFA Confederations Cup The hosts of all Senior Association Football FIFA World Cups, including both men's and women's, as of 2014

Current Champions of FIFA Tournaments

Competition		Year	Champions	Details	Runners-up		Next
National teams
FIFA World Cup (qualification)		2022 (qual.)	Argentina	Final	France		2026 (qual.)
Men's Olympic Football Tournament (U-23)		2024 (qual.)	Spain	Final	France		2028 (qual.)
FIFA U-20 World Cup		2023 (qual.)	Uruguay	Final	Italy		2025 (qual.)
FIFA U-17 World Cup		2023 (qual.)	Germany	Final	France		2025 (qual.)
FIFA Futsal World Cup		2024 (qual.)	Brazil	Final	Argentina		2028 (qual.)
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (see BSWW)		2024 (qual.)	Brazil	Final	Italy		2025 (qual.)
FIFA Series		2024	Algeria  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cape Verde  Guinea  Central African Republic	RR RR Final RR RR RR	Bolivia  Azerbaijan  Egypt  Guyana  Brunei  Sri Lanka		2026
FIFA Arab Cup (senior teams of the UAFA (Arab world))		2021 (qual.)	Algeria	Final	Tunisia		2025
Women's national teams
FIFA Women's World Cup (qualification)		2023 (qual.)	Spain	Final	England		2027 (qual.)
Women's Olympic Football Tournament		2024 (qual.)	United States	Final	Brazil		2028 (qual.)
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup		2024 (qual.)	North Korea	Final	Japan		2026 (qual.)
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup		2024 (qual.)	North Korea	Final	Spain		2025 (qual.)
FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup		—	—	—	—		2025
Club teams
FIFA Club World Cup		2023 (qual.)	Manchester City	Final	Fluminense		2025 (qual.)
FIFA Intercontinental Cup		2024	Real Madrid	Final	Pachuca		2025
Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup		2024	Red Bull Salzburg	Final	Zürich		2025
Women's club teams
FIFA Women's Club World Cup		—	—	—	—		2028
FIFA Women's Champions Cup		—	—	—	—		2026
Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup		2024	Arsenal	Final	Basel		2025

eSports Champions

Competitio		Season	Game	Winner (Player/Gamer ID)	Details	Runner-up (Player/Gamer ID)		Season
Esports
FIFAe World Cup	2022	EA Sports FIFA 22	Umut - Umut Gültekin	Final	Nicolas Villalba - Nicolas99FC	2023
	2024	Football Manager 2024	Ichsan Taufiq (manager), Manar Hidayat (assistant)	Final	Sven Golly (manager), Terry Whenett (assistant)	2025
	2024	Rocket League	Yazid Bakhashwin-Kiileerrz, Saleh Bakhashwin-Rw9, Mohammed Alotaibi-trk511	Final	Axel Touret-Vatira, Evan Rogez-M0nkey M00n, Alexis Bernier-Zen	2025
	2024	eFootball Console	Binong Boys, Shnks-Elga, Akbar Paudie	Final	GuiFera99, STS_Jvictor, ThiagoAvare10	2025
		eFootball Mobile	Minbappe	Final	An10_Tienes
FIFAe Club World Cup (part of the FIFAe Club Series)	2022	EA Sports FIFA 22	Riders	Final	SAF	2023
FIFAe Nations Series (part of the FIFAe Nations Cup)	2023	EA Sports FIFA 23	(Paulo Henrique Chaves) (Pedro Henrique Soares) (Paulo Neto)	Final	(Levi de Weerd) (Manuel Bachoore) (Emre Yilmaz)	2024
FIFAe Continental Cup	2022		ProGamer	Final	Crazy Win	2023

FIFA World Rankings: Who is Number One?

Top 20 Men's Teams This table shows the top 20 men's football teams in the world. FIFA World Rankings as of 7 February 2019. Top 20 rankings as of 7 February 2019 Rank Change Team Points 1  Belgium 1727 2  France 1726 3  Brazil 1676 4  Croatia 1634 5  England 1631 6  Portugal 1614 7  Uruguay 1609 8  Switzerland 1599 9  Spain 1591 10  Denmark 1589 11  Argentina 1582 12  Colombia 1575 13  Chile 1565 14  Sweden 1560 14  Netherlands 1560 16  Germany 1558 17  Mexico 1540 18  Italy 1539 19  Wales 1525 20  Poland 1518 20  Peru 1518 *Change from 20 December 2018 Complete rankings at FIFA.com

Top 20 Women's Teams This table shows the top 20 women's football teams in the world. FIFA Women's World Rankings as of 7 December 2018. Top 20 rankings as of 7 December 2018 Rank Change Team Points 1  United States 2123 2  Germany 2057 3 1  France 2046 4 1  England 2021 5  Canada 2006 6  Australia 1999 7 3  Netherlands 1987 8 1  Japan 1984 9  Sweden 1976 10 2  Brazil 1964 11  North Korea 1938 12  Spain 1920 13  Norway 1902 14  South Korea 1880 15  China 1871 16 1  Italy 1859 17 1  Denmark 1842 18  Switzerland 1832 19 1  New Zealand 1819 20 1  Scotland 1810 *Change from 28 September 2018 Complete rankings at FIFA.com

Companies That Support FIFA

FIFA Partners

These are some of the big companies that partner with FIFA:

• Adidas
• Aramco
• Coca-Cola
• Hyundai–Kia
• Lenovo
• Qatar Airways
• Visa

FIFA+: Your Football Streaming Hub

In April 2022, FIFA launched FIFA+. This is an online streaming service. It shows up to 40,000 live matches each year. This includes 11,000 women's matches. FIFA+ also has old content, like every World Cup match ever filmed. It also offers original documentaries.

FIFA+ broadcasts all youth World Cup matches. This includes both boys' and girls' tournaments. It also showed the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup live in some areas. FIFA+ has rights to show games from the Oceania region. This includes the OFC Champions League. It also shows New Zealand's domestic games.

Competitions on FIFA+

• National League
• Serie C Now

See also

In Spanish: FIFA para niños

• Association football culture
• Association football tactics and skills
• FIFA (video game series)
• List of association football clubs
• List of association football competitions
• List of association football stadiums by country
• List of women's national association football teams
• List of top association football goal scorers
• List of women's association football clubs
• Lists of association football players
• FIFA Congress