FIFA - wikipedia FIFA This article is about the governing body of association football. For the video games, see FIFA ( video game series ). Not to be confused with FIBA. FIFA Fédération Internationale de Football Association Logo of FIFA Map of the members of FIFA according to their confederation Abbreviation FIFA Motto For the Game. For the World. Founded 21 May 1904 ; 114 years ago ( 1904 - 05 - 21 ) Type Federation of national associations Legal status Governing body of association football Purpose Sport governance Headquarters Zürich, Switzerland Coordinates 47 ° 22 ′ 53 '' N 8 ° 34 ′ 28 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 47.38139 ° N 8.57444 ° E ﻿ / 47.38139 ; 8.57444 Coordinates : 47 ° 22 ′ 53 '' N 8 ° 34 ′ 28 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 47.38139 ° N 8.57444 ° E ﻿ / 47.38139 ; 8.57444 Region served Worldwide Membership 211 national associations Official languages English French German Spanish President Gianni Infantino Senior Vice-President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al - Khalifa Vice-Presidents Aleksander Čeferin David Gill Alejandro Domínguez Ahmad Ahmad Victor Montagliani Sándor Csányi Lambert Maltock Secretary General Fatma Samoura Main organ Congress Affiliations International Olympic Committee International Football Association Board Staff 103 Website www.fifa.com The Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA / ˈfiːfə / FEEF - ə ; French for `` International Federation of Association Football '' ) is an organization which describes itself as an international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. FIFA is responsible for the organization of football 's major international tournaments, notably the World Cup which commenced in 1930 and the Women 's World Cup which commenced in 1991. FIFA was founded in 1904 to oversee international competition among the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Headquartered in Zürich, its membership now comprises 211 national associations. Member countries must each also be members of one of the six regional confederations into which the world is divided : Africa, Asia, Europe, North & Central America and the Caribbean, Oceania, and South America. Although FIFA does not control the rules of football, that being the responsibility of the International Football Association Board, it is responsible for both the organization of a number of tournaments and their promotion, which generate revenue from sponsorship. In 2017, FIFA had revenues of over US $ 734 million, for a net loss of $189 million, and had cash reserves of over US $930 million. Reports by investigative journalists have linked FIFA leadership with corruption, bribery, and vote - rigging related to the election of FIFA president Sepp Blatter and the organization 's decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively. These allegations led to the indictments of nine high - ranking FIFA officials and five corporate executives by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges including racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. On 27 May 2015, several of these officials were arrested by Swiss authorities, who were launching a simultaneous but separate criminal investigation into how the organization awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Those among these officials who were also indicted in the U.S. are expected to be extradited to face charges there as well. Many officials were suspended by FIFA 's ethics committee including Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini. In early 2017 reports became public about FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempting to prevent the re-elections of both chairmen of the ethics committee, Cornel Borbély and Hans - Joachim Eckert, during the FIFA congress in May 2017. On May 9, 2017, following Infantino 's proposal, FIFA Council decided not to renew the mandates of Borbély and Eckert. Together with the chairmen, 11 of 13 committee members were removed. Contents 1 History 2 Structure 2.1 Laws and governance 2.2 Administrative cost 2.3 Six confederations and 211 national associations 3 Recognitions and awards 4 Governance and game development 4.1 Discipline of national associations 4.2 Video replay and Goal - line technology 5 Anthem 6 Sponsors 7 Corruption 7.1 Guilty pleas 7.2 Indictments and arrests 7.3 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids 7.4 2011 FIFA presidential election 7.5 Response to allegations 7.6 2018 revision of code of ethics 8 Presidency 9 FIFA structured tournaments 9.1 Major tournaments 9.2 Minor tournaments 9.3 Other tournaments 9.4 Current title holders 10 See also 11 References and notes 11.1 Notes 11.2 References 12 Further reading 13 External links History Main article : History of FIFA The need for a single body to oversee association football became apparent at the beginning of the 20th century with the increasing popularity of international fixtures. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA ) was founded in the rear of the headquarters of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques ( USFSA ) at the Rue Saint Honoré 229 in Paris on 21 May 1904. The French name and acronym are used even outside French - speaking countries. The founding members were the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain ( represented by the then - Madrid Football Club ; the Royal Spanish Football Federation was not created until 1913 ), Sweden and Switzerland. Also, that same day, the German Football Association ( DFB ) declared its intention of affiliating through a telegram. The first president of FIFA was Robert Guérin. Guérin was replaced in 1906 by Daniel Burley Woolfall from England, by then a member of the association. The first tournament FIFA staged, the association football competition for the 1908 Olympics in London was more successful than its Olympic predecessors, despite the presence of professional footballers, contrary to the founding principles of FIFA. Membership of FIFA expanded beyond Europe with the application of South Africa in 1909, Argentina in 1912, Canada and Chile in 1913, and the United States in 1914. During World War I, with many players sent off to war and the possibility of travel for international fixtures severely limited, the organization 's survival was in doubt. Post-war, following the death of Woolfall, the organisation was run by Dutchman Carl Hirschmann. It was saved from extinction but at the cost of the withdrawal of the Home Nations ( of the United Kingdom ), who cited an unwillingness to participate in international competitions with their recent World War enemies. The Home Nations later resumed their membership. The FIFA collection is held by the National Football Museum at Urbis in Manchester, England. The first World Cup was held in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Structure Main article : List of FIFA Member Associations Map of the World with the six confederations : membership details below. Laws and governance FIFA is headquartered in Zürich, and is an association established under the law of Switzerland. FIFA 's supreme body is the FIFA Congress, an assembly made up of representatives from each affiliated member association. Each national football association has one vote, regardless of its size or footballing strength. The Congress assembles in ordinary session once every year, and extraordinary sessions have been held once a year since 1998. The congress makes decisions relating to FIFA 's governing statutes and their method of implementation and application. Only the Congress can pass changes to FIFA 's statutes. The congress approves the annual report, and decides on the acceptance of new national associations and holds elections. Congress elects the President of FIFA, its general secretary, and the other members of the FIFA Council in the year following the FIFA World Cup. FIFA Council -- formerly called the FIFA Executive Committee and chaired by the president -- is the main decision - making body of the organisation in the intervals of congress. The council is composed of 37 people : the president ; 8 vice presidents ; and 28 members from the confederations, with at least of them being a woman. The Executive Committee is the body that decides which country will host the World Cup. The president and the general secretary are the main office holders of FIFA, and are in charge of its daily administration, carried out by the general secretariat, with its staff of approximately 280 members. Gianni Infantino is the current president, elected on 26 February 2016 at an extraordinary FIFA Congress session after former president Sepp Blatter was suspended pending a corruption investigation. FIFA 's worldwide organisational structure also consists of several other bodies, under the authority of the FIFA Council or created by Congress as standing committees. Among those bodies are the FIFA Emergency Committee, the FIFA Ethics Committee, the Finance Committee, the Disciplinary Committee, and the Referees Committee. The FIFA Emergency Committee deals with all matters requiring immediate settlement in the time frame between the regular meetings of the FIFA Council. The Emergency Committee consists of the FIFA president as well as one member from each confederation. Emergency Committee decisions made are immediately put into legal effect, although they need to be ratified at the next Executive Committee meeting. Administrative cost FIFA publishes its results according to IFRS. The total compensation for the management committee in 2011 was 30 million for 35 people. Blatter, the only full - time person on the committee, earned approximately two million Swiss francs, 1.2 million in salary and the rest in bonuses. A report in London 's The Sunday Times in June 2014 said the members of the committee had their salaries doubled from $100,000 to $200,000 during the year. The report also said leaked documents had indicated $4.4 million in secret bonuses had been paid to the committee members following the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Six confederations and 211 national associations FIFA confederations AFC, CAF, CONCACAF CONMEBOL, OFC, UEFA Besides its worldwide institutions there are six confederations recognised by FIFA which oversee the game in the different continents and regions of the world. National associations, and not the continental confederations, are members of FIFA. The continental confederations are provided for in FIFA 's statutes, and membership of a confederation is a prerequisite to FIFA membership. Asian Football Confederation ( AFC ; 47 members ) Confederation of African Football ( CAF ; 56 members ) Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football ( CONCACAF ; 41 members ) Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol ( CONMEBOL ; 10 members ) Oceania Football Confederation ( OFC ; 14 members ) Union of European Football Associations ( UEFA ; 55 members ) In total, FIFA recognises 211 national associations and their associated men 's national teams as well as 129 women 's national teams ; see the list of national football teams and their respective country codes. FIFA has more member states than the UN as FIFA recognises 23 non-sovereign entities as distinct nations, such as the four Home Nations within the United Kingdom and politically disputed territories such as Palestine. The FIFA Working Committee of Small Nations has categorized potential FIFA members into three categories : Independent states not in FIFA ( Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Niue, Palau, Tuvalu, Vatican City ) Non-independent territories ( Åland Islands, Guadeloupe, Greenland, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Martinique, Northern Mariana Islands, Réunion, Sint Maarten, Zanzibar ) Politically sensitive areas ( Abkhazia, Crimea, Northern Cyprus, South Ossetia ). The FIFA World Rankings are updated monthly and rank each team based on their performance in international competitions, qualifiers, and friendly matches. There is also a world ranking for women 's football, updated four times a year. Recognitions and awards FIFA holds an annual awards ceremony which recognises both individual and team achievements in international association football. Individually, the top men 's player is awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or and the top women 's player is named FIFA World Player of the Year ; the latter title was also awarded to the men 's player prior to its 2010 merger with France Football 's Ballon d'Or. At the Ballon d'Or banquet, the FIFA Puskás Award, FIFA / FIFPro Best XI, FIFA Fair Play Award, and FIFA Presidential Award are also awarded. In 1994 FIFA published the FIFA World Cup All - Time Team. In 2000 FIFA published the results of an Internet poll, declaring Real Madrid to be the FIFA Club of the Century. In 2002 FIFA announced the FIFA Dream Team, an all - time all - star team chosen by fans in a poll. As part of its centennial celebrations in 2004, FIFA organised a `` Match of the Century '' between France and Brazil. Governance and game development This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2017 ) Main article : Laws of the Game ( association football ) FIFA headquarters in Zürich The laws that govern football, known officially as the Laws of the Game, are not solely the responsibility of FIFA ; they are maintained by a body called the International Football Association Board ( IFAB ). FIFA has members on its board ( four representatives ) ; the other four are provided by the football associations of the United Kingdom : England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, who jointly established IFAB in 1882 and are recognised for the creation and history of the game. Changes to the Laws of the Game must be agreed by at least six of the eight delegates. The FIFA Statutes form the overarching document guiding FIFA 's governing system. The governing system is divided into separate bodies that have the appropriate powers to create a system of checks and balances. It consists of four general bodies : the congress, the executive committee, the general secretariat, and standing and ad - hoc committees. Discipline of national associations FIFA frequently takes active roles in the running of the sport and developing the game around the world. One of its sanctions is to suspend teams and associated members from international competition when a government interferes in the running of FIFA 's associate member organisations or if the associate is not functioning properly. A 2007 FIFA ruling that a player can be registered with a maximum of three clubs, and appear in official matches for a maximum of two, in a year measured from 1 July to 30 June has led to controversy, especially in those countries whose seasons cross that date barrier, as in the case of two former Ireland internationals. As a direct result of this controversy, FIFA modified this ruling the following year to accommodate transfers between leagues with out - of - phase seasons. Video replay and goal - line technology See also : Goal - line technology and Video assistant referee Flag of FIFA with the organisation 's slogan FIFA now permits the use video evidence during matches, as well as for subsequent sanctions. However, for most of FIFA 's history it stood opposed to its use. The 1970 meeting of the International Football Association Board `` agreed to request the television authorities to refrain from any slow - motion play - back which reflected, or might reflect, adversely on any decision of the referee ''. As recently as 2008 FIFA president Sepp Blatter said : `` Let it be as it is and let 's leave ( football ) with errors. The television companies will have the right to say ( the referee ) was right or wrong, but still the referee makes the decision -- a man, not a machine. '' This stance was finally overturned on 3 March 2018, when the IFAB wrote video assistant referee s ( also known as VARs ) into the Laws of the Game on a permanent basis. Their use remains optional for competitions. In early July 2012 FIFA sanctioned the use of goal - line technology, subject to rules specified by the International Football Association Board ( IFAB ), who had officially approved its use by amending the Laws of the Game to permit ( but not require ) its use. This followed a high - profile incident during a second - round game in the 2010 FIFA World Cup between England and Germany, where a shot by Englishman Frank Lampard, which would have levelled the scores at 2 -- 2 in a match that ultimately ended in a 4 -- 1 German victory, crossed the line but was not seen to do so by the match officials, which led FIFA officials to declare that they would re-examine the use of goal - line technology. Anthem Main article : FIFA Anthem Akin to the UEFA Champions League, FIFA has adopted an anthem composed by the German composer Franz Lambert since the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It has been re-arranged and produced by Rob May and Simon Hill. The FIFA Anthem is played at the beginning of official FIFA sanctioned matches and tournaments such as international friendlies, the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women 's World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, Football at the Summer Olympics, FIFA U-20 Women 's World Cup, FIFA Women 's U-17 World Cup, FIFA Futsal World Cup, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Since 2007, FIFA has also required most of its broadcast partners to use short sequences including the anthem at the beginning and end of FIFA event coverage, as well as for break bumpers, to help promote FIFA 's sponsors. This emulates practices long used by some other international football events such as the UEFA Champions League. Exceptions may be made for specific events ; for example, an original piece of African music was used for bumpers during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sponsors Adidas Coca - Cola Gazprom Hyundai / Kia Motors Visa Wanda Group Qatar Airways Corruption Main article : 2015 FIFA corruption case In May 2006 British investigative reporter Andrew Jennings ' book Foul ! The Secret World of FIFA : Bribes, Vote - Rigging and Ticket Scandals ( Harper Collins ) caused controversy within the football world by detailing an alleged international cash - for - contracts scandal following the collapse of FIFA 's marketing partner International Sport and Leisure ( ISL ), and revealed how some football officials have been urged to secretly repay the sweeteners they received. The book also alleged that vote - rigging had occurred in the fight for Sepp Blatter 's continued control of FIFA. Shortly after the release of Foul ! a BBC television exposé by Jennings and BBC producer Roger Corke for the BBC news programme Panorama was broadcast. In this hour - long programme, screened on 11 June 2006, Jennings and the Panorama team agree that Sepp Blatter was being investigated by Swiss police over his role in a secret deal to repay more than £ 1m worth of bribes pocketed by football officials. Lord Triesman, the former chairman of the English Football Association, described FIFA as an organization that `` behaves like a mafia family '', highlighting the association 's `` decades - long traditions of bribes, bungs and corruption ''. All testimonies offered in the Panorama exposé were provided through a disguised voice, appearance, or both, save one ; Mel Brennan, formerly a lecturer at Towson University in the United States ( and from 2001 to 2003 Head of Special Projects for CONCACAF, a liaison to the e-FIFA project and a 2002 FIFA World Cup delegate ), became the first high - level football insider to go public with substantial allegations of greed, corruption, nonfeasance and malfeasance by CONCACAF and FIFA leadership. During the Panorama exposé, Brennan -- the highest - level African - American in the history of world football governance -- joined Jennings, Trinidadian journalist Lisana Liburd and many others in exposing allegedly inappropriate allocations of money at CONCACAF, and drew connections between ostensible CONCACAF criminality and similar behaviors at FIFA. Since then, and in the light of fresh allegations of bribery and corruption and opaque action by FIFA in late 2010, both Jennings and Brennan remain highly critical of FIFA, with Brennan calling directly for an alternative to FIFA to be considered by the stakeholders of the sport throughout the world. In a further Panorama documentary broadcast on BBC One on 29 November 2010, Jennings alleged that three senior FIFA officials, Nicolas Leoz, Issa Hayatou and Ricardo Teixeira, had been paid huge bribes by FIFA 's marketing partner ISL between 1989 and 1999, which FIFA had failed to investigate. He claimed they appeared on a list of 175 bribes paid by ISL, totaling about $100 million. A former ISL executive said that there were suspicions within ISL that the company was only awarded the marketing contract for successive World Cups by paying bribes to FIFA officials. The programme also alleged that another current official, Jack Warner, has been repeatedly involved in reselling World Cup tickets to touts ; Sepp Blatter said that FIFA had not investigated the allegation because it had not been told about it via ' official channels '. The programme also criticized FIFA for allegedly requiring World Cup host bidding nations to agree to implement special laws for the World Cup, including a blanket tax exemption for FIFA and sponsors, and limitation of workers ' rights. It alleged that governments of bidding nations are required to keep the details of the required laws confidential during the bidding process ; but that they were revealed by the Dutch government, which refused to agree to them, as a result of which it was told by FIFA that its bid could be adversely affected. According to the programme, following Jennings ' earlier investigations he was banned from all FIFA press conferences, for reasons he says have not been made clear ; and the accused officials failed to answer questions about his latest allegations, either verbally or by letter. British prime minister David Cameron and Andy Anson, head of England 's World Cup bid, criticized the timing of the broadcast, three days before FIFA 's decision on the host for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, on the grounds that it might damage England 's bid ; the voters included officials accused by the programme. In June 2011, it came to light that the IOC had started inquiry proceedings against FIFA honorary president João Havelange into claims of bribery. The BBC Panorama programme alleged that the Brazilian accepted a $1 million ' bung ' in 1997 from ISL. The Olympic governing body said `` the IOC takes all allegations of corruption very seriously and we would always ask for any evidence of wrongdoing involving any IOC members to be passed to our ethics commission ''. In a 2014 interview, American sports writer Dave Zirin said greed, corruption, nonfeasance, and malfeasance are endemic to FIFA leadership, and that FIFA should be abolished for the good of the game. He said that currently, FIFA is in charge of both monitoring corruption in football matches, and marketing and selling the sport, but that two `` separate '' organizational bodies are needed : an organizational body that monitors corruption and match - fixing and the like, and an organization that 's responsible for marketing and sponsorships and selling the sport. Zirin said the idea of having a single organization that 's responsible for both seems highly ineffective and detrimental to the sport. In May 2015, 14 people were arrested, including nine FIFA officials, after being accused of corruption. Guilty pleas Between 2013 and 2015 four individuals, and two sports television rights corporations pleaded guilty to United States financial misconduct charges. The pleas of Chuck Blazer, José Hawilla, Daryan Warner, Darrell Warner, Traffic Group and Traffic Sports USA were unsealed in May 2015. In another 2015 case, Singapore also imposed a 6 - year `` harshest sentence ever received for match - fixing '' on match - fixer Eric Ding who had bribed three Lebanese FIFA football officials with prostitutes as an inducement to fix future matches that they would officiate, as well as perverting the course of justice. Indictments and arrests Fourteen FIFA officials and marketing executives were indicted by the United States Department of Justice in May 2015. The officials were arrested in Switzerland and are in the process of extradition to the US. Specific charges ( brought under the RICO act ) include wire fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. `` Swiss authorities say they have also opened a separate criminal investigation into FIFA 's operations pertaining to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids ''. FIFA 's top officials were arrested at a hotel in Switzerland on suspicion of receiving bribes totaling $100 m ( £ 65m ). The US Department of Justice stated that nine FIFA officials and four executives of sports management companies were arrested and accused of over $150 m in bribes. The UK Shadow Home Secretary and Labour Member of Parliament, Andy Burnham, stated in May 2015 that England should boycott the 2018 World Cup against corruption in FIFA and military aggression by Russia. 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids Further information : 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bids and Garcia Report FIFA 's choice to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has been widely criticised by media. It has been alleged that some FIFA inside sources insist that the Russian kickbacks of cash and gifts given to FIFA executive members were enough to secure the Russian 2018 bid weeks before the result was announced. Sepp Blatter was widely criticised in the media for giving a warning about the `` evils of the media '' in a speech to FIFA executive committee members shortly before they voted on the hosting of the 2018 World Cup, a reference to The Sunday Times exposés, and the Panorama investigation. Two members of FIFA 's executive committee were banned from all football - related activity in November 2010 for allegedly offering to sell their votes to undercover newspaper reporters. In early May 2011, a British parliamentary inquiry into why England failed to secure the 2018 finals was told by member of parliament, Damian Collins, that there was evidence from the Sunday Times newspaper that Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of Ivory Coast were paid by Qatar. Qatar has categorically denied the allegations, as have Hayatou and Anouma. FIFA president Blatter said, as of 23 May 2011, that the British newspaper The Sunday Times has agreed to bring its whistle - blowing source to meet senior FIFA officials, who will decide whether to order a new investigation into alleged World Cup bidding corruption. `` ( The Sunday Times ) are happy, they agreed that they will bring this whistleblower here to Zürich and then we will have a discussion, an investigation of this '', Blatter said. Specifically, the whistleblower claims that FIFA executive committee members Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma were paid $1.5 million to vote for Qatar. The emirate 's bid beat the United States in a final round of voting last December. Blatter did not rule out reopening the 2022 vote if corruption could be proved, but urged taking the matter `` step by step ''. The FIFA president said his organization is `` anxiously awaiting '' more evidence before asking its ethics committee to examine allegations made in Britain 's Parliament in early May 2011. Hayatou, who is from Cameroon, leads the Confederation of African Football and is a FIFA vice president. Anouma is president of Ivorian Football Federation. The whistleblower said Qatar agreed to pay a third African voter, Amos Adamu, for his support. The Nigerian was later suspended from voting after a FIFA ethics court ruled he solicited bribes from undercover Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists. Blatter said the newspaper and its whistleblower would meet with FIFA secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, and legal director, Marco Villiger. Allegations against FIFA officials have also been made to the UK Parliament by David Triesman, the former head of England 's bid and the English Football Association. Triesman told the lawmakers that four long - standing FIFA executive committee members -- Jack Warner, Nicolás Leoz, Ricardo Teixeira and Worawi Makudi -- engaged in `` improper and unethical '' conduct in the 2018 bidding, which was won by Russia. All six FIFA voters have denied wrongdoing. On 28 September 2015, Sepp Blatter suggested that the 2018 World Cup being awarded to Russia was planned before the voting, and that the 2022 World Cup would have then been awarded to the United States. However, this plan changed after the election ballot, and the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar instead of the U.S. 2011 FIFA presidential election FIFA announced on 25 May 2011 that it had opened the investigation to examine the conduct of four officials -- Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, along with Caribbean Football Union ( CFU ) officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester -- in relation to claims made by executive committee member, Chuck Blazer. Blazer, who was at the time, the general secretary of the CONCACAF confederation, has alleged that violations were committed under the FIFA code of ethics during a meeting organized by Bin Hammam and Warner on 10 and 11 May -- the same time Lord Triesman had accused Warner of demanding money for a World Cup 2018 vote -- in relation to the 2011 FIFA presidential election, in which Bin Hammam, who also played a key role in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, allegedly offered financial incentives for votes cast in his favour during the presidential election. As a result of the investigation both Bin Hammam and Warner were suspended. Warner reacted to his suspension by questioning Blatter 's conduct and adding that FIFA secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, had told him via e-mail that Qatar had bought the 2022 World Cup. Valcke subsequently issued a statement denying he had suggested it was bribery, saying instead that the country had `` used its financial muscle to lobby for support ''. Qatar officials denied any impropriety. Bin Hammam also responded by writing to FIFA, protesting unfair treatment in suspension by the FIFA Ethics Committee and FIFA administration. Further evidence emerged of alleged corruption. On 30 May 2011, Fred Lunn, vice-president of the Bahamas Football Association, said that he was given $40,000 in cash as an incitement to vote for FIFA presidential candidate, Mohamed bin Hammam. In addition, on 11 June 2011 Louis Giskus, president of the Surinamese Football Association, alleged that he was given $40,000 in cash for `` development projects '' as an incentive to vote for Bin Hammam. Response to allegations After being re-elected as president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter responded to the allegations by promising to reform FIFA in wake of the bribery scandal, with Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, saying there is great expectation for reform. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is being tipped for a role on the newly proposed ' Solutions Committee ', and former Netherlands national football team player Johan Cruyff is also being linked with a role. UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino said he hopes for `` concrete '' measures to be taken by the world game 's authority. Saying that `` the UEFA executive committee has taken note of the will of FIFA to take concrete and effective measures for good governance... ( and is ) following the situation closely. '' IOC president Jacques Rogge commented on the situation by saying that he believes FIFA `` can emerge stronger '' from its worst ever crisis, stating that `` I will not point a finger and lecture... I am sure FIFA can emerge stronger and from within ''. Several of FIFA 's partners and sponsors have raised concerns about the allegations of corruption, including Coca - Cola, Adidas, Emirates and Visa. Coca - Cola raised concerns by saying `` the current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport '' ; with Adidas saying `` the negative tenor of the public debate around Fifa at the moment is neither good for football nor for Fifa and its partners '' ; moreover Emirates raised its concerns by saying `` we hope that these issues will be resolved as soon as possible '' ; and Visa adding `` the current situation is clearly not good for the game and we ask that Fifa take all necessary steps to resolve the concerns that have been raised. '' Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib said it was clear FIFA needed to change, saying `` there is no doubt there needs to be reform of FIFA. This is something that we 're hearing worldwide '', with Australian Senator Nick Xenophon accusing FIFA of `` scamming '' the country out of the A $46 million ( US $35 million ) it spent on the Australia 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, saying that `` until the investigation into FIFA has been completed, Australia must hold off spending any more taxpayers ' money on any future World Cup bids. '' Theo Zwanziger, president of the German Football Association, also called on FIFA to re-examine the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Transparency International, which had called on FIFA to postpone the election pending a full independent investigation, renewed its call on FIFA to change its governance structure. Moreover, former Argentine football player Diego Maradona was critical of FIFA in light of the corruption scandal, comparing members of the board to dinosaurs. He said `` Fifa is a big museum. They are dinosaurs who do not want to relinquish power. It 's always going to be the same. '' In October 2011, Dick Pound criticized the organization, saying, `` FIFA has fallen far short of a credible demonstration that it recognizes the many problems it faces, that it has the will to solve them, that it is willing to be transparent about what it is doing and what it finds, and that its conduct in the future will be such that the public can be confident in the governance of the sport. '' 2018 revision of code of ethics In 2018, FIFA revised its code of ethics to remove corruption as one of the enumerated bases of ethical violations. It retained bribery, misappropriation of funds and manipulation of competitions as offenses, but added a statute of limitation clause that those offenses could not be pursued after a ten - year period. The revision also made it an offence to make public statements of a defamatory nature against FIFA. Alexandra Wrage, a former member of the FIFA governance committee and an expert in anti-bribery compliance, said that of the revision that `` the real value to FIFA is the chilling effect this will have on critics ''. Presidency Main article : List of presidents of FIFA Presidents of FIFA No. Name Country of origin Took office Left office Note Robert Guérin France 23 May 1904 4 June 1906 Daniel Burley Woolfall United Kingdom 4 June 1906 24 October 1918 Died in office -- Cornelis August Wilhelm Hirschman Netherlands 24 October 1918 1920 Acting Jules Rimet France 1 March 1921 21 June 1954 Rodolphe Seeldrayers Belgium 21 June 1954 7 October 1955 Died in office 5 Arthur Drewry United Kingdom 9 June 1956 25 March 1961 Died in office -- Ernst Thommen Switzerland 25 March 1961 28 September 1961 Acting 6 Stanley Rous United Kingdom 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 Impeached -- Issa Hayatou Cameroon 8 October 2015 26 February 2016 Acting 9 Gianni Infantino Switzerland Italy 26 February 2016 -- FIFA structured tournaments Major tournaments FIFA World Cup FIFA Confederations Cup Men 's Olympic Football Tournament FIFA Women 's World Cup Women 's Olympic Football Tournament Minor tournaments FIFA U-20 World Cup FIFA U-17 World Cup Boys ' Youth Olympic Football Tournament ( U-15 ) FIFA U-20 Women 's World Cup FIFA U-17 Women 's World Cup Girls ' Youth Olympic Football Tournament ( U-15 ) FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Women 's Club World Cup ( proposed ) FIFA Futsal World Cup FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup Other tournaments FIFA eWorld Cup Current title holders Hosts of all Senior Association Football FIFA World Cups, including both men 's and women 's Competition Men 's Women 's World Cup France ( 2018 ) United States ( 2015 ) Confederations Cup Germany ( 2017 ) -- Olympic Tournament Brazil ( 2016 ) Germany ( 2016 ) U-20 World Cup England ( 2017 ) Japan ( 2018 ) U-17 World Cup England ( 2017 ) North Korea ( 2016 ) Youth Olympic Tournament Brazil ( 2018 ) Portugal ( 2018 ) Club World Cup Real Madrid ( 2017 ) -- Futsal World Cup Argentina ( 2016 ) -- Beach Soccer World Cup Brazil ( 2017 ) -- Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup Dinamo Zagreb ( 2018 ) Young Boys ( 2018 ) eWorld Cup Mosaad Aldossary ( 2018 ) See also Association football culture Association football tactics and skills List of association football clubs List of association football stadiums by country List of men 's national association football teams 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 References and notes Notes Jump up ^ French pronunciation : ​ ( fedeʁasjɔ̃ ε̃tεʁnasjɔnal də futbol asɔsjasjɔ̃ ) ^ Jump up to : Australia has been a member of the AFC since 2006. Jump up ^ French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname are CONCACAF members although they are in South America. The French Guiana team is a member of CONCACAF but not of FIFA. Jump up ^ Teams representing the nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey are UEFA members, although the majority or entirety of their territory is outside of continental Europe. Monaco is not member of UEFA or FIFA. References ^ Jump up to : `` Fédération Internationale de Football Association ''. Filmcircle.com. 11 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014. Jump up ^ FIFA.com. `` FIFA Committees - FIFA Council - FIFA.com ''. Retrieved 19 December 2016. Jump up ^ FIFA.com. `` History of FIFA - Foundation - FIFA.com ''. FIFA.com. Retrieved 2018 - 06 - 15. Jump up ^ `` FIFA Financial Report 2013 ''. FIFA. Missing or empty url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` FIFA officials arrested on corruption charges ; Sepp Blatter is n't among them ''. 27 May 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption ''. U.S. DOJ Office of Public Affairs. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015. Jump up ^ Mike Collett & Brian Homewood ( 27 May 2015 ). `` World soccer rocked as top officials held in U.S., Swiss graft cases ''. Reuters. Retrieved 27 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini banned for eight years by Fifa ''. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Rise and fall of Michel Platini - the self - proclaimed ' football man ' who forgot the meaning of integrity ''. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ Conn, David ( 2017 - 03 - 02 ). `` Trust in Fifa has improved only slightly under Gianni Infantino, survey finds ''. The Guardian. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ Reuters ( 2017 - 03 - 15 ). `` FIFA Ethics Chiefs Facing Uncertain Future ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Infantino at 1. Are the Ethics bigwigs the next stop on his personal ' reform ' agenda ? ''. Inside World Football. 2017 - 02 - 27. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. ^ Jump up to : `` FIFA Ethics Committee still investigating ' hundreds ' of cases : Borbely ''. Reuters. 2017 - 05 - 10. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 10. Jump up ^ Conn, David ( 2017 - 05 - 10 ). `` Fifa 's ousted ethics heads were investigating ' hundreds ' of cases ''. The Guardian. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 10. Jump up ^ Classic Football History of FIFA -- Foundation, https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/fifa/foundation.html Jump up ^ FIFA ( 10 September 2009 ). `` FIFA 's 208 Member Associations '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 1 December 2015. Jump up ^ Council, Manchester City. `` About the National Football Museum The National Football Museum at Urbis Manchester City Council ''. www.manchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Council, Manchester City. `` About the National Football Museum The National Football Museum at Urbis Manchester City Council ''. www.manchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ `` FIFA Congress ''. FIFA. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Jump up ^ `` Issa Hayatou to be acting Fifa president following suspension of Sepp Blatter ''. The Guardian. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Acting FIFA President Issa Hayatou ''. FIFA. Retrieved 8 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Emergency Committee ''. FIFA. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 07. Jump up ^ Chaudhary, Vivek ( 2002 - 04 - 25 ). `` Outraged Scot takes up the chase of Blatter ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Blatter chairs emergency FIFA meeting as scandal grows ''. Reuters. 2015 - 05 - 28. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 08. Jump up ^ `` FIFA Ratify Suspension Of Iraqi Football Association ''. Goal. 2009 - 12 - 04. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 08. Jump up ^ Fifa - Boni : Von wegen 30 Millionen, Bilanz, 17 May 2012. Jump up ^ FIFA Financial Report 2013, p94. Jump up ^ Interview mit : Joseph Blatter Archived 25 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine., persönlich.com, 2002 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Report claims FIFA bosses secretly doubled their salaries ''. Sports Sun. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Palestine Football : Escape to Victory ? ''. Bruisedearth.org. 27 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` PlayTheGame ''. Retrieved 11 October 2014. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ EMORY INTERNATIONAL LAW REVIEW. `` FIFA TRANSFER REGULATIONS AND UEFA PLAYER ELIGIBILITY RULES : MAJOR CHANGES IN EUROPEAN FOOTBALL AND THE NEGATIVE EFFECT ON MINORS '' ( PDF ). EMORY INTERNATIONAL LAW REVIEW. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Fifa rules out video evidence ''. The Guardian. London. 5 January 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2009. Jump up ^ IFAB ( 27 June 1970 ). `` Minutes of the AGM '' ( PDF ). Inverness : Soccer South Bay Referee Association. § 5 ( i ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2009. Jump up ^ `` FIFA halts instant replay experiment ''. CBC News. 8 March 2008. Jump up ^ `` Historic step for greater fairness in football ''. The IFAB. IFAB. 3 Mar 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018. Jump up ^ Bailey, Graeme ( 6 July 2012 ). `` Goal - line technology approved ''. SKY Sports. Retrieved 6 July 2018. Jump up ^ `` ABOUT GOAL - LINE TECHNOLOGY ''. FIFA. Retrieved 6 July 2018. Jump up ^ Coomber, Michael ( 29 June 2010 ). `` FIFA boss to consider video replay ''. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ Kearney, Judith ; Wood, Lesley ; Teare, Richard ( 28 October 2015 ). `` Designing Inclusive Pathways with Young Adults : Learning and Development for a Better World ''. Springer -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ `` FIFA 's 113th foundation day : 10 things you should know about world football 's governing body : Sports Arena ''. indiatoday.intoday.in. Jump up ^ `` FIFA anthem ''. YouTube. Retrieved 19 May 2010. Jump up ^ `` adidas ''. FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` COCA - COLA ''. FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia TM Market Affiliates ''. FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hyundai / Kia Motors ''. FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` VISA ''. FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` Wanda Group becomes Fifa partner ''. SportsProMedia. Jump up ^ `` Qatar Airways announced as Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA until 2022 ''. FIFA Website. Jump up ^ `` BBC News Fifa ' like a mafia family ' says former FA boss Triesman ''. BBC News. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014. Jump up ^ Ziegler, Martyn ( 18 November 2010 ). `` Fifa suspend six officials ''. The Independent. London. Retrieved 18 November 2010. Jump up ^ `` BBC iPlayer -- World Football : 20 / 11 / 2010 ''. BBC. 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Panorama, BBC One, 29 November 2010 Jump up ^ `` Panorama : Three Fifa World Cup officials took bribe '', BBC News, 29 November 2010 Jump up ^ International ( 17 June 2011 ). `` Fifa honourary ( sic ) president Joao Havelange faces IOC inquiry ''. Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Dave Zirin : Abolish FIFA ( 17 June 2014 ), Dave Zirin, The Real News Network Jump up ^ The Guardian. `` Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges as World Cup inquiry launched ''. Jump up ^ Chelvan, Vanessa Paige. `` Convicted match - fixer Eric Ding 's jail term extended to 6 years ''. CNA. Retrieved 2 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges ; Blatter Is n't Among Them ''. The New York Times. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2016. Jump up ^ WPLG. `` FBI searching South Florida offices linked to FIFA in soccer scandal ''. Local10. Jump up ^ Fifa corruption arrests : key questions answered The Guardian 27 May 2015 Jump up ^ England should boycott 2018 World Cup, says Andy Burnham Guardian 31 May 2015 Jump up ^ Simon Barnes ( 6 December 2010 ). `` FIFA is a gathering of nasty, mad old men ''. The Australian. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ Rogers, Martin. `` Qatar selection adds to FIFA 's ongoing folly -- World Soccer -- Yahoo ! Sports ''. Sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ Seltzer, Greg ( 3 December 2010 ). `` Media Reaction to World Cup Voting ''. Philadelphia Union. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` FIFA, SAFA voting baffling : Sport : Columnists : Mark Gleeson ''. Sport24.co.za. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ Parker, Nick ( 6 December 2010 ). `` War on FIFA ''. The Sun. London. Jump up ^ Yallop, David ( 4 December 2010 ). `` England World Cup bid : how did we get it so wrong ? ''. London : Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` BBC News -- Fifa launches investigation into vote - selling claims ''. BBC. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ Press Association ( 3 December 2010 ). `` England World Cup chief : Fifa 's Sepp Blatter spoke of ' evils of media ''. The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 22 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` Qatar denies paying World Cup bribes to Hayatou, Anouma ''. Afrikansoccer.com. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` FFA coy on World Cup bid re-run ''. Sydney Morning Herald. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` FIFA investigates Bin Hammam bribery claims -- ESPN Soccernet ''. ESPN. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Sepp Blatter : FIFA to meet Qatar 2022 bid whistleblower -- ESPN ''. ESPN. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` BBC Sport ''. BBC Sport. BBC. Jump up ^ Riach, James. `` Sepp Blatter : Russia was chosen as 2018 World Cup host before vote ''. The Guardian Newspaper. Jump up ^ Postrel, Virginia ( 3 June 2011 ). `` How FIFA 's Fouls May Revive the Beautiful Game : David Goldblatt ''. Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Soccer overflowing with scoundrels and scandals ''. Philly.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Owen Gibson ( 25 May 2011 ). `` Fifa in crisis after claims against Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` FIFA investigates Bin Hammam bribery claims ''. ESPN. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Fifa suspends Bin Hammam and Jack Warner ''. BBC News. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Fifa Soap Opera Latest : Jack Warner Says 2022 World Cup Was ' Bought ' -- FanHouse UK ''. Fanhouse.co.uk. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Blatter tips Henry Kissinger for role on FIFA ' Solutions Committee ' ''. CNN. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Doherty, Regan E. ( 30 May 2011 ). `` Qataris brush off allegations of buying World Cup rights ''. Reuters. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Kelso, Paul ( 1 June 2011 ). `` Mohamed Bin Hammam writes to Fifa protesting ' unfair ' treatment in suspension ahead of presidential election ''. Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Press Association ( 30 May 2011 ). `` Official ' was offered $40,000 ' after Mohamed bin Hammam presentation ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Owen Gibson ( 9 June 2011 ). `` Fifa rocked by fresh claims after Surinam FA reports $40,000 ' gift ' ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` FIFA Congress Roundup -- Kissinger, Cruyff for Watchdog ; Jordaan 's Expectations for Reforms ''. Worldfootballinsider.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Matt Scott in Zurich ( 2 June 2011 ). `` Henry Kissinger recommended for Fifa anti-corruption squad Football ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Eurosport / PA Sport. `` World Cup -- UEFA wants ' concrete ' changes to FIFA soon -- Yahoo ! Eurosport ''. Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Blatter Vows to Tackle Corruption ; IOC Chief Says FIFA `` Can Emerge Stronger '' From Crisis ``. Worldfootballinsider.com. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Fifa corruption claims : What the sponsors are saying ''. London : Telegraph. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Reece, Damian ( 2 June 2011 ). `` McDonald 's joins Coca - Cola and Visa in calling for Fifa change ''. London : Telegraph. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Press Association ( 30 May 2011 ). `` Coca - Cola joins Adidas in expressing concern about Fifa shenanigans ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ ( AFP ) -- 30 May 2011 ( 30 May 2011 ). `` AFP : Australia demands FIFA reform ''. Google. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` BBC Sport -- German Federation asks Fifa for inquiry into Qatar 2022 ''. BBC News. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` What should FIFA do about corruption : version 2.0 : space for transparency ''. Blog.transparency.org. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` It 's a big museum of dinosaurs -- Diego Maradona blasts Fifa ''. Goal.com. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ Associated Press, `` Pound lambastes FIFA for lack of transparency '', Japan Times, 5 October 2011, p. 18. ^ Jump up to : Harris, Rob ( August 14, 2018 ). `` Keep bribes quiet for 10 years, FIFA wo n't punish you ''. AP News. Retrieved August 14, 2018. Further reading Paul Darby, Africa, Football and Fifa : Politics, Colonialism and Resistance ( Sport in the Global Society ), Frank Cass Publishers 2002, ISBN 0 - 7146 - 8029 - X. John Sugden, FIFA and the Contest For World Football, Polity Press 1998, ISBN 0 - 7456 - 1661 - 5. Jim Trecker, Charles Miers, J. Brett Whitesell, ed., Women 's Soccer : The Game and the Fifa World Cup, Universe 2000, Revised Edition, ISBN 0 - 7893 - 0527 - 5. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to FIFA. Official website ( in English ) ( in French ) ( in German ) ( in Spanish ) ( in Portuguese ) ( in Arabic ) ( in Russian ) ( in Japanese ) BBC 's Panorama, Fifa 's Dirty secrets, transcript Document on alleged FIFA corruption FIFA Laws of the Game Links to related articles FIFA History of FIFA FIFA Anthem FIFA Congress FIFA Council FIFA Ethics Committee FIFA headquarters Football at the Summer Olympics List of football federations International Football Association Board Timeline of association football Football codes Association football Beach soccer Futsal Confederations AFC CAF CONCACAF CONMEBOL OFC UEFA Men 's tournaments FIFA World Cup FIFA Confederations Cup FIFA U-20 World Cup FIFA U-17 World Cup FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Futsal World Cup FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup Women 's tournaments FIFA Women 's World Cup FIFA U-20 Women 's World Cup FIFA U-17 Women 's World Cup FIFA Women 's Club World Cup Other tournaments FIFA eWorld Cup Presidents Robert Guérin ( 1904 -- 1906 ) Daniel Burley Woolfall ( 1906 -- 1918 ) Jules Rimet ( 1921 -- 1954 ) Rodolphe Seeldrayers ( 1954 -- 1955 ) Arthur Drewry ( 1955 -- 1961 ) Stanley Rous ( 1961 -- 1974 ) João Havelange ( 1974 -- 1998 ) Sepp Blatter ( 1998 -- 2015 ) Issa Hayatou ( 2015 -- 2016, acting ) Gianni Infantino ( 2016 -- present ) General Secretaries Louis Muhlinghaus ( 1904 -- 1906 ) Wilhelm Hirschman ( 1906 -- 1931 ) Ivo Schricker ( 1932 -- 1951 ) Kurt Gassmann ( 1951 -- 1960 ) Helmut Käser ( 1961 -- 1981 ) Sepp Blatter ( 1981 -- 1998 ) Michel Zen - Ruffinen ( 1998 -- 2002 ) Urs Linsi ( 2002 -- 2007 ) Jérôme Valcke ( 2007 -- 2015 ) Markus Kattner ( 2015 -- 2016, acting ) Fatma Samoura ( 2016 -- present ) Awards FIFA 100 FIFA Ballon d'Or FIFA Club of the Century FIFA Development Award FIFA Fair Play Award FIFA Female Player of the Century FIFA FIFPro World XI FIFA Order of Merit FIFA Player of the Century FIFA Presidential Award FIFA Puskás Award FIFA Women 's World Cup awards FIFA World Coach of the Year FIFA World Cup All - Time Team FIFA World Cup Dream Team FIFA World Cup awards FIFA World Player of the Year The Best FIFA Football Awards Rankings FIFA World Rankings ( Former systems : 1999 -- 2006 2006 -- 2018 ) FIFA Women 's World Rankings Congresses 51st ( Paris 1998 ) 53rd ( Seoul 2002 ) 61st ( Zürich 2011 ) 65th ( Zürich 2015 ) Extraordinary ( Zürich 2016 ) Corruption `` FIFA 's Dirty Secrets '' Garcia Report 2015 FIFA corruption case List of banned football officials Others FIFA ( video game series ) List of FIFA country codes FIFA Disciplinary Code FIFA Fan Fest FIFA Futbol Mundial FIFA eligibility rules FIFA International Match Calendar FIFA International Referees List FIFA Master FIFA Transfer Matching System FIFA World Cup Trophy Non-FIFA United Passions International association football FIFA Federations Teams Competitions World Cup U-20 U-17 Confederations Cup Olympics Youth Olympics Universiade World Rankings The Best FIFA Football Awards Timeline of association football Comparison of association football and futsal Africa CAF -- Africa Cup of Nations U-23 U-20 U-17 Regional ( CECAFA, CEMAC, COSAFA, WAFU ) Intercontinental ( UAFA ) Asia AFC -- Asian Cup U-23 U-19 U-16 U-14 Regional ( ASEAN, EAFF, SAFF, CAFA, WAFF ) Intercontinental ( UAFA ) Europe UEFA -- European Championship U-21 U-19 U-17 Nations League North America, Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF -- Gold Cup U-20 U-17 U-15 Nations League Regional ( CFU, UNCAF ) Oceania OFC -- Nations Cup U-19 U-17 South America CONMEBOL -- Copa América U-20 U-17 U-15 Non-FIFA NF - Board -- Viva World Cup CONIFA -- ConIFA World Football Cup ConIFA European Football Cup IIGA -- Island Games Games African Games Asian Games Central America Central America and Caribbean East Asian Games Francophonie Games Indian Ocean Island Lusophony Games Mediterranean Games Pan American Games Pan Arab Games Pacific Games South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games West Asian Games See also Geography Codes Player / Club of the Century Women 's football International women 's association football FIFA Federations Teams Competitions World Rankings Player of the Year The Best FIFA Women 's Player Asia AFC Women 's Asian Cup U-19 U-16 Regional ( ASEAN, EAFF, SAFF, WAFF ) Africa CAF Women Cup of Nations U-20 U-17 Regional ( CECAFA, COSAFA, WAFU ) North America, Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF Women 's Gold Cup U-20 U-17 South America CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina U-20 U-17 Oceania OFC Women 's Nations Cup U-20 U-17 Europe UEFA Women 's Championship U-19 U-17 Non-FIFA NF - Board Women 's Viva World Cup Games African Games Asian Games Central America and Caribbean Central American Games Pan American Games Pacific Games Indian Ocean Island Games South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games Universiade Worldwide World Cup U-17 U-20 Albena Cup Algarve Cup Brazil Cup China Cup Cyprus Women 's Cup Turkish Women 's Cup Istria Cup Peace Queen Cup SheBelieves Cup Tournament of Nations Yongchuan International Tournament Olympics Youth Olympics Universiade Geography Codes Player of the Century Men 's football International men 's club football FIFA FIFA Club World Cup List of association football clubs Africa CAF -- Champions League Confederation Cup Super Cup Top - division clubs Asia AFC -- Champions League AFC Cup Top - division clubs Europe UEFA -- Champions League Europa League Super Cup Top - division clubs North, Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF -- Champions League CONCACAF League Top - division clubs Oceania OFC -- Champions League Top - division clubs South America CONMEBOL -- Copa Libertadores Copa Sudamericana Recopa Sudamericana Top - division clubs See also : International women 's club football International women 's club football FIFA FIFA Women 's Club World Cup International Women 's Club Championship List of women 's association football clubs Asia AFC -- None Africa CAF -- None North, Central America and the Caribbean CONCACAF -- None South America CONMEBOL -- Copa Libertadores Femenina Oceania OFC -- None Europe UEFA -- Women 's Champions League See also : International men 's club football National association football teams FIFA FIFA World Cup FIFA Confederations Cup Summer Olympics Football AFC Asian Cup Africa Cup of Nations CONCACAF Gold Cup Copa América OFC Nations Cup UEFA Euro AFC Afghanistan Australia Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Darussalam Cambodia China PR Chinese Taipei Guam Hong Kong India Indonesia IR Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Korea DPR Korea Republic Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Macau Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Northern Mariana Islands Oman Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Timor - Leste Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen CAF Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Congo DR Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea - Bissau Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Réunion Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zanzibar Zimbabwe CONCACAF Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Costa Rica Cuba Curaçao Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador French Guiana Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Martinique Mexico Montserrat Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sint Maarten Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States U.S. Virgin Islands CONMEBOL Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela OFC American Samoa Cook Islands Fiji Kiribati * New Caledonia New Zealand Niue * Palau * Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tahiti Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu UEFA Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia - Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Israel Italy Kazakhstan Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg FYR Macedonia Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia San Marino Scotland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine Wales Defunct Czechoslovakia Saar West Germany East Germany Ireland Tanganyika North Vietnam South Vietnam North Yemen South Yemen United Arab Republic Soviet Union CIS Yugoslavia FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro Netherlands Antilles Teams indicated in italics are associate / full members of their respective regional bodies but not members of FIFA. See also : List of women 's football teams International futsal AMF AMF Futsal World Cup AMF Futsal Women 's World Cup FIFA FIFA Futsal World Cup Youth Olympics Women 's Futsal World Tournament Grand Prix Confederations Cup World University Championship Pan American Games South American Games Futsal Mundialito Mediterranean Cup Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Lusophony Games Southeast Asian Games Futsal Awards Teams Asia AFC Futsal Championship U-20 Women 's Futsal Championship Africa CAF Futsal Cup of Nations North America Central America and Caribbean CONCACAF Futsal Championship South America CONMEBOL Copa América U-20 U-17 Copa América Femenina U-20 Oceania OFC Futsal Championship U-18 Europe UEFA : Futsal Championship U-21 U-19 UEFA Women 's Futsal Championship FEF : UEFS Futsal Men 's Championship UEFS Futsal Women 's Championship International club futsal ( FIFA ) FIFA Intercontinental Futsal Cup Asia AFC -- AFC Futsal Club Championship Top - division clubs Africa CAF -- None Top - division clubs North America Central America and Caribbean CONCACAF -- CONCACAF Futsal Club Championship Top - division clubs South America CONMEBOL -- Copa Libertadores de Futsal Top - division clubs Oceania OFC -- None Top - division clubs Europe UEFA -- UEFA Futsal Champions League Cup Winners Cup ( defunct ) European Clubs Championship ( defunct ) Top - division clubs International beach soccer FIFA Beach Soccer Worldwide ( BSWW ) World Cup Intercontinental Cup Mundialito ( de Clubes ) BSWW Tour World Rankings Stars Awards Asia AFC -- Championship Africa CAF -- Cup of Nations North America Central America and Caribbean CONCACAF -- Championship South America CONMEBOL -- World Cup qualifiers Copa América U-20 League Club Copa Libertadores Oceania OFC -- Championship Europe UEFA -- League World Cup qualifiers Cup Club Winners Cup Men 's Women 's Games Asian Beach Games Bolivarian Beach Games European Games Mediterranean Beach Games South American Beach Games International sports federations ASOIF ( 28 ) Summer Olympics Federations FINA ( aquatic sports ) WA ( archery ) IAAF ( athletics ) BWF ( badminton ) FIBA ( basketball ) AIBA ( boxing ) ICF ( canoeing ) UCI ( cycling ) FEI ( equestrianism ) FIE ( fencing ) FIFA ( football / soccer ) IGF ( golf ) FIG ( gymnastics ) IHF ( handball ) FIH ( field hockey ) IJF ( judo ) UIPM ( modern pentathlon ) FISA ( rowing ) WR ( rugby union ) WS ( sailing ) ISSF ( shooting ) ITTF ( table tennis ) WT ( taekwondo ) ITF ( tennis ) ITU ( triathlon ) FIVB ( volleyball ) IWF ( weightlifting ) UWW ( wrestling ) AIOWF ( 7 ) Winter Olympics Federations IBU ( biathlon ) IBSF ( bobsleigh and skeleton ) WCF ( curling ) IIHF ( ice hockey ) FIL ( luge ) ISU ( skating sports ) FIS ( skiing sports ) ARISF ( 39 ) Others recognised by IOC FAI ( air sports ) IFAF ( american football ) FIA ( auto racing ) FIB ( bandy ) WBSC ( baseball and softball ) FIPV ( basque pelota ) WCBS ( billiards sports ) CMSB ( boules ) WB ( bowling ) WBF ( bridge ) ICU ( cheer ) FIDE ( chess ) UIAA ( mountaineering ) ICC ( cricket ) WDSF ( dance sport ) FMJD ( draughts ) IFF ( floorball ) WFDF ( flying disc ) WKF ( karate ) IKF ( korfball ) ILSF ( life saving ) FIM ( motorcycle sport ) IFMA ( muay Thai ) INF ( netball ) IOF ( orienteering ) FIP ( polo ) UIM ( powerboating ) IRF ( racquetball ) FIRS ( roller sports ) ISMF ( ski mountaineering ) IFSC ( sports climbing ) WSF ( squash ) IFS ( sumo ) ISA ( surfing ) TWIF ( tug - of - war ) CMAS ( underwater sports ) FISU ( university sports ) IWWF ( waterski and wakeboard ) IWUF ( wushu ) Others in GAISF ( 21 ) IAF ( aikido ) IFBB ( body building ) ICSF ( casting ) WDF ( darts ) IDBF ( dragon boat ) IFA ( fistball ) IGF ( go ) IFI ( ice stock sport ) JJIF ( ju - jitsu ) FIK ( kendo ) WAKO ( kickboxing ) FIL ( lacrosse ) WMF ( minigolf ) IPF ( powerlifting ) FIAS ( sambo ) FISav ( savate ) ISTAF ( sepaktakraw ) ISFF ( sleddog ) ISTF ( soft tennis ) CIPS ( sport fishing ) GAISF observer members ( 9 ) WAF ( arm wrestling ) WDA ( dodgeball ) FIFG ( footgolf ) IUKL ( kettlebell lifting ) IFP ( poker ) IPSF ( pole dance ) ITSF ( table football / soccer ) RLIF ( rugby league ) IPF ( padel ) Others ( 20 ) ARI ( australian rules football ) IBA ( bodyboarding ) PBA ( bowls ) IBJJF ( Brazilian jiu - jitsu ) IFBA ( broomball ) WCF ( croquet ) IGAA ( gaelic football and hurling ) IKF ( kabaddi ) IMMAF ( mixed martial arts ) WMRA ( mountain running ) IPSC ( practical shooting ) IQA ( quidditch ) IFMAR ( radio - controlled racing ) IRF ( rogaining ) WSSF ( snowshoe running ) ISF ( skyrunning ) WSSA ( sport stacking ) ITPF ( tent pegging ) FIT ( touch football ) ITRA ( trail running ) IAU ( ultra running ) International Olympic Committee International World Games Association Global Association of International Sports Federations Association football portal Sport portal WorldCat Identities BNF : cb118758476 ( data ) GND : 210096 - 4 ISNI : 0000 0001 2164 6271 LCCN : n50041646 NDL : 00970742 SUDOC : 026526921 VIAF : 136163632 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FIFA&oldid=865861144 '' Categories : FIFA Association football governing bodies International sports organisations IOC - recognised international federations International sports bodies based in Switzerland Companies based in Zürich Sports organisations established in 1904 1904 establishments in France Hidden categories : Pages using web citations with no URL Webarchive template wayback links Use dmy dates from October 2014 Coordinates not on Wikidata All accuracy disputes Articles with disputed statements from June 2015 Articles needing additional references from May 2017 All articles needing additional references Articles with French - 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Question: what does fifa stand for in the world cup
Answer: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association[a] (FIFA /ˈfiːfə/ FEEF-ə; French for "International Federation of Association Football")