This is a list of international football governing bodies.

Global FIFA - Fédération Internationale de Football Association - 211 members - founded in 1904, represents nations from around the world, and is the overall governing body of recognised international football. Its premier tournaments are the quadrennial men's FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup. CONIFA - Confederation of Independent Football Associations - 44 members - founded in 2013 as CIFA, represents nations, dependencies, unrecognized states, minorities and regions not affiliated to FIFA. The main tournament is the CONIFA World Football Cup.

Defunct UIAFA - Union Internationale Amateur de Football Association - three, later seven members - founded in 1908 and dissolved in 1912. Main tournament was the Amateur European Championship, this confederations was the rival to FIFA in the early years. NF-Board - New Football Federations-Board / Nouvelle Fédération-Board - 18 members + 14 provisional - founded in 2003, represented nations, dependencies, unrecognized states, minorities, stateless peoples, regions and micronations not affiliated to FIFA. The main tournament is the VIVA World Cup. This organization was dissolved in January 2013, however was revived in 2017, despite not being able to host any events that it tried to host, even after its announced revival. As of 2025, no successful events have been hosted since its revival.

Continental FIFA confederations FIFA-member football associations are formed together into continental confederations, which organize continental national and club competitions.

AcronymName in fullNo. ofmembersFoundedContinentrepresentedMain tournamentAFCAsian Football Confederation471954AsiaAFC Asian CupCAFConfederation of African Football54 F + 2 A1957AfricaAfrican Cup of NationsCONCACAFConfederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football411961North AmericaCONCACAF Gold CupCONMEBOLConfederación Sudamericana de Fútbol10 1916South AmericaCopa AméricaOFCOceania Football Confederation11 F + 2 A1966OceaniaOFC Nations CupUEFAUnion of European Football Associations551954EuropeUEFA European Championship (UEFA Euro)

F = full members; A = associate members.

Intercontinental The following confederations consist of FIFA member associations that cross continental boundaries.

UAFA - Union of Arab Football Associations - twenty-two members - founded in 1974, represents Arab nations from Africa and Asia. The main tournament is the Arab Cup.

Defunct PFC Panamerican Football Confederation - twenty-four members - founded in 1946 was the not official fusion of CONMEBOL, CCCF and NAFC and represented teams from Americas. The main tournament was the Panamerican Championship, when PFC was dissolved, both CCCF and NAFC both were merged to form CONCACAF

Subregional Africa Affiliated to CAF AcronymName in fullNo. ofmembersFoundedNations representedMain tournamentCECAFACouncil of East and Central African Football Associations10 F + 1 A1927Those generally regarded as forming the regions of East AfricaSome nations of Central AfricaCECAFA CupCOSAFACouncil of Southern Africa Football Associations14 F + 1 A1997Those generally regarded as forming Southern AfricaIsland states off the coast of Southern AfricaCOSAFA CupWAFUUnion of West African Football Associations161977Those in West AfricaWAFU Nations CupUNAFUnion of North African Federations52005Those regarded as forming North AfricaUNIFFACCentral African Football Federations' Union8 Some of the nations that form Central AfricaCEMAC Cup

Sub-Regions

WAFU-Zone A - WAFU West Zone - nine members a sub-zone of WAFU WAFU-Zone B - WAFU East Zone - seven members a sub-zone of WAFU UFFOI - Union des fédérations de football de l'océan Indien - six members - founded in 2009, a sub-zone of COSAFA.

Asia Affiliated to AFC

AcronymName in fullNo. ofmembersFoundedNations representedMain tournamentWAFFWest Asian Football Federation122001Represents nations from West AsiaWAFF ChampionshipEAFFEast Asian Football Federation102002Represents nations from East AsiaEAFF E-1 Football ChampionshipSAFFSouth Asian Football Federation71997Represents nations from South AsiaSAFF ChampionshipCAFACentral Asian Football Association62015Represents nations from Central AsiaCAFA Nations CupAFFASEAN Football Federation121984Represents nations from Southeast AsiaASEAN Championship

Not affiliated to AFC

AcronymName in fullNo. ofmembersFoundedNations representedMain tournamentGFFGulf Football Federation82016Represents the participating nations of the Arabian Gulf CupArabian Gulf Cup

North America Affiliated to CONCACAF

CFU - Caribbean Football Union - thirty one members - represents all nations in the Caribbean. The main tournament was the Caribbean Cup. LIFA - Leeward Islands Football Association - eleven members - founded in 1949, represents nations of the Leeward archipelago and is affiliated to CFU. The main tournament was the Leeward Islands Tournament. WIFA - Windward Islands Football Association - four members - represents nations of the Windward archipelago and is affiliated to CFU. The main tournament was the Windward Islands Tournament. NAFU - North American Football Union - three members - represents the three sovereign nations of North America. The main tournament was the now defunct North American Nations Cup. UNCAF Union Centroamericana de Fútbol - seven members - represents the seven nations of Central America. The main tournament was the UNCAF Nations Cup.

Defunct confederations affiliated to FIFA CCCF - Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol - eleven members - dissolved in 1961, represented Central America and Caribbean region and was affiliated to FIFA. The main tournaments were the CCCF Championship and CCCF Youth Championship. NAFC - North American Football Confederation - four members (later three) - founded in 1946 and dissolved in 1961, represented the North American region and was affiliated to FIFA. The main tournament was the NAFC Championship.

Defunct confederations not-affiliated to FIFA CENF - Confederation of European New Federations - unknown number of members - founded in 2007 and dissolved in 2009, represented teams not affiliated to FIFA in Europe, and was affiliated to NF-Board. The main tournament was the CENF Cup, but is unknown to have been played. FIFI - Federation of International Football Independents - five members - represented nations, dependencies and unrecognized states not affiliated to FIFA. The main tournament was the FIFI Wild Cup. : The main South American non-FIFA organisation. As of August 2025, There are 11 member associations. IFU - International Football Union - two provisional members - founded in 2009 as an international football confederation for nations and territories not admitted to FIFA, was dissolved in 2010.

Notes

External links Official Organisations (incl. National Federations) at the RSSSF Football Federations Around the Globe, Soccerlens.com