FIFA stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association. It is the highest international organization responsible for the governance and development of football. In simple words, FIFA controls and manages football at the world level.
FIFA was founded in 1904 to create international coordination among football associations. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland.
The main purpose of FIFA is to promote football globally, organize international football competitions, support national football associations, and improve the standard of football. FIFA works from grassroots football to top-level international tournaments.
The most famous tournament organized by FIFA is the FIFA World Cup, which is held every four years. It is one of the most popular sports events in the world. FIFA also organizes the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
As of June 2026, FIFA is especially important in current affairs because the FIFA World Cup 2026 is being hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This edition has 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the biggest FIFA World Cup in history.
The current FIFA President is Gianni Infantino, who was first elected FIFA President on 26 February 2016.