World Soccer (FIFA)

FIFA World – FIFA was founded in 1904, and 1930 was the year of the first World Cup.

FA England – The Football Association was founded in England in 1862, and the Football League in 1888. The International Championship was first played in 1884.

UEFA Europe – The first Regional tournament in Europe was the Mitropa Cup (Mittel Europa Cup) first played in 1927, The European Champions Cup in 1956 and the European Nations Cup in 1958.

CSF South America – The Copa America was first played in 1910 and the Copa Libertadores (Clubs) in 1960

CONCACAF North, Central America and Caribbean – The first CCCF Championship was played in 1941, the first CONCACAF GOld Cup in 1991 and the first CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1962.

AFC Asia – The Asian Cup was first played in 1956 and the Asian Champion Teams Cup (now AFC Champions League) in 1967.

CAF Africa – The First AFCON (African Cup of Nations) was played in 1957 and the first African Cup of Champion Clubs (now CAF Champions League) in 1964.

OFC Oceania – The First Oceania Cup was held in 1973.

Island Games – The First Island Games (North Atlantic) was held in 1985.

Women’s World Soccer – The first Women’s World Cup was held in 1991.

CONIFA Independent – The First VIVA (Now CONIFA) World Cup was held in 2006.

FIFA Football Fives – Neymar Jr lent his name to the first FIFA Football Fives World Cup in 2018.

FIFA (Federation International de Football Association)

FIFA (the Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the World Governing Body for Football (Soccer). 211 Nations are members. It’s primary competitions are the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup

FA England

The Football Association of England is the oldest Soccer Association in the World.

Home Nations Club Cups

The Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup features teams from the Scottish Football League, Highland Football League, Lowland Football League, Scottish Premier Football League U21s, English National League, Welsh Premier League, The Northern Ireland Football League and the League of Ireland.

English Premier League & UK Leagues

The Football Association of England is the oldest Soccer Association in the World.

Scandinavian & Nordic National Leagues

Baltic National Leagues

UEFA (Union European de Football Association)

UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations) is a Regional Governing Body within FIFA, which runs Football (Soccer) in Europe, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

UEFA’s Primary Competitions are the UEFA European Championships (Men’s and Women’s and Underage – Countries), UEFA Champions League (Club Tournament) and UEFA Nations League (Country Tournament)

UEFA Regional Competitions

Italy Serie A & Mediterranean National Leagues

Spain La Liga & Iberia

France Ligue 1-4

BeNeLux National Leagues

Germany Bundesliga & Central European Leagues

Russian Premier Liga & CIS National leagues

CONMEBOL (Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol)

Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol (CSF) or more popularly known as CONMEBOL is the Governing Body for Football (Soccer) in South America (excluding Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname). CONMEBOL’s Primary Competitions are the Copa America (South American Nations Championship – now including two North or Central American Countries), and the Libertadores Cup (South American Club Championship). The Football Leagues of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuala and the Brazilian State Leagues are included where an Irish connection has been found.

CONMEBOL (Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol)

Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol (CSF) or more popularly known as CONMEBOL is the Governing Body for Football (Soccer) in South America (excluding Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname). CONMEBOL’s Primary Competitions are the Copa America (South American Nations Championship – now including two North or Central American Countries), and the Libertadores Cup (South American Club Championship). The Football Leagues of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuala and the Brazilian State Leagues are included where an Irish connection has been found.

South American National Leagues

Brazil State Championships

CONCACAF (North America)

CONCACAF is the Regional Continental Association for North, Central American and Caribbean Football Associations, and governs Soccer at the Continental level throughout North, Central America and the Caribbean. Within CONCACAF, there are sub-federations NAFU (North American Football Union) containing Soccer Canada, The United States Soccer Federation and the Mexican Football Federation; UNCAF (Union Centroamericana de Futbol) which is a regional federation for the seven Central American Nations, plus CFU (Caribbean Football Union) which represents the Soccer Associations of the Caribbean Islands plus Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, geographically part of South America, but small enough and bordering the Caribbean that they are part of the CFU and CONCACAF rather than the giant Footballing countries of CONMEBOL (Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol) – the South American Confederation.

CONCACAF Cups

NAFU North American Football Union

UNCAF Central America

CFU Caribbean Football Union

Both Montserrat and Barbados have populations partly descended from Irish captives enslaved by Oliver Cromwell. Montserrat is the only other country in the world where St. Patrick’s Day is a National Holiday, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Barbados is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. ^{1 2}

Major League Soccer & CONCACAF National Leagues

Major League Soccer & North America

USSF United States Soccer Federation Leagues

Soccer Canada Leagues

UNCAF Central America National Leagues

CFU Caribbean National Leagues

Both Montserrat and Barbados have populations partly descended from Irish captives enslaved by Oliver Cromwell. Montserrat is the only other country in the world where St. Patrick’s Day is a National Holiday, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Barbados is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. [References: 3,4]

AFC (Asian Football Confederation)

The Asian Football Confederation governs Football (Soccer) throughout Asia, including Australia and Guam, but excluding Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Israel who are in UEFA (Europe).

AFC’s Primary Competitions are the Asian Cup (National Teams) and the AFC Champions League (Club teams). Within the AFC there are Regional Associations which also run their own National and Regional Club Competitons: EAFF (East Asia), ASEAN (South East Asia), SAFF (South Asia), CAFA (Central Asia) and WAFF (West Asia).

EAFF East Asia Football Federation

ASEAN Football Federation

SAFF South Asia Football Federation

CAFA Central Asia

WAFF West Asian Football Federation

CAF (Confederation of African Football)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in 1957 by three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, playing the first African Nations Cup that year. It was not, however, until 1960 and the independence of a large amount of African countries that the CAF took on the appearance of a genuine Continental Federation.

WAFU (West African Football Union)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in 1957 by three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, playing the first African Nations Cup that year. It was not, however, until 1960 and the independence of a large amount of African countries that the CAF took on the appearance of a genuine Continental Federation.

CECAFA East & Central Africa

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in 1957 by three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, playing the first African Nations Cup that year. It was not, however, until 1960 and the independence of a large amount of African countries that the CAF took on the appearance of a genuine Continental Federation.

Numerous Irish-named players playing for both Mauritius National team and Premier League teams

COSAFA (Southern Africa)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in 1957 by three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, playing the first African Nations Cup that year. It was not, however, until 1960 and the independence of a large amount of African countries that the CAF took on the appearance of a genuine Continental Federation.

Bloemfontein Celtic, with the name of the famous Glasgow Irish Soccer Club played in the National Soccer League.

South Africa NSL & COSAFA National Leagues

There has been an Irish presence in numerous African National Leagues.

OFC (Oceania Football Confederation)

The Oceania Football Confederation runs Football (Soccer) throughout Oceania (Pacific Islands), with the exception of Australia and Guam which are in the Asian Football Confedration, and Hawaii, which is a constituent part of the United States of America.

Soccer New Zealand

Oceania National Leagues

Intercontinental Soccer

As well as the Continental Associations and Regional Zones within them, there are Inter-Continental Competitions such as Pan-American Competitions (North, Central and South America); Arab Cups (North Africa and West Asia), and Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia, Kazakhstan and the other 9 Independent States which make up the CIS).

Inter-American Games

As well as the Continental Associations and Regional Zones within them, there are Inter-Continental Competitions such as Pan-American Competitions (North, Central and South America); Arab Cups (North Africa and West Asia), and Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia, Kazakhstan and the other 9 Independent States which make up the CIS).

Commonwealth Cup

Pan-Arab Cups

World Club Pre-Season Tours

Preseason Tournaments

UEFA Europe Preseason Tournaments

CONMEBOL South America Preseason Tournaments

CONCACAF North America Preseason

Preseason tournaments held in USA include the International Champions Cup featuring top European and South American teams which has been held over the past few years; the United Soccer Association, a preseason league where European and South American teams (including Shamrock Rovers and Glenavon) played as American-based teams over the summer of 1967; and the International Soccer League from 1960 to 1965, an extended preseason tournament, again featuring top European and South American teams.

AFC Asia Preseason

Preseason Tournaments held in Asia in the 1990s included the Merlion Cup in Singapore, the Dunhill / Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Hong Kong’s Carlsberg Challenge. These tournaments often featured top European Club and National Teams playing during preseason tours.

WSL Women’s Super League

FIFA organises World events for Women’s Soccer as well as the Men’s. In addition to the FIFA Women’s World Cup there is also UEFA and other continental associations. The National Women’s Soccer League in USA is a Major Professional League and the Women’s Super League in England attracts the top Irish Stars.

World Women’s Preseason

FIFA organises World events for Women’s Soccer as well as the Men’s. In addition to the FIFA Women’s World Cup there is also UEFA and other continental associations. The National Women’s Soccer League in USA is a Major Professional League.

Non-FIFA Soccer

There are a number of Non-FIFA Soccer Organisations in the World – the International Island Games Association (IIGA), The Federation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA), CSANF – The Regional Body for Non-FIFA Football in South America, which includes CONADI / ANPO – the National Association of Indiginous Peoples.

Island Games (Atlantic Ocean)

The International Island Games Association held its Inaugural Games on the Isle of Man in 1985. Initially just between 7 islands in Norway and the United Kingdom, the International Island Games Association has grown to include members as far away as Aland Islands (Finland), Bermuda (North Atlantic), Greenland (Arctic) and Gibraltar (Mediterranean). It holds the IIGA Island Games every second year, including events in many of the sports, both individual and team, that the Summer Olympic Games holds.

Indian Ocean Games

CONIFA (Federation of Independent Football Associations)

CONIFA (the Confederation of Independent Football Associations) is the governing body for non-FIFA recognised countries, Small Island Nations, Minority Regions within FIFA-recognised Countries, and Breakaway Republics. CONIFA’s Primary Competition is the CONIFA World Cup.

CSANF (South American Council of New Federations)

The CSANF (the Regional Body for Non-FIFA Football in South America) was founded in 2007 for the promotion of sport and culture for Nations, Islands, Communities, Territories and Minorities that are not members of FIFA. As part of the CSANF, CONADI & ANPO (National Association of Indigineous Peoples) organised the first National Championship of Indigineous Peoples in Chile in 2012.

Vatican City State

The Vatican City State is neither a member of FIFA or CONIFA, and has played members of both. It runs an 8-team National League, with a blue card in addition to the red and yellow cards for persistent fouling where players spend five minutes in the sinbin. Anyone who lives in the State is eligible for the National Team. It has a Women’s Team as well as a Men’s National team.

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