T
he Structure of Soccer
Soccer is the number one sport in virtually every country around
the world and no sport generates excitement, passion and enthusiasm
in the same way as soccer.
A total of 204 countries play competitive soccer under the sanction
and control of one world governing body: FIFA (the Fédération
Internationale de Football Association). Created in 1904, FIFA is
ultimately responsible for governing soccer around the world and organizing
all championship tournaments and events.
Six continental confederations are directly affiliated with FIFA:
the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) with 44 members, the Confédération
Africaine de Football (CAF) with 52 members, the Confederation of
North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
with 35 members, the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)
with 10 members, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) with 11
members, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) with
52 members.
FIFA not only governs the sport, but also is actively involved with
programs that promote the social values of soccer at all levels of
the game. To that end, FIFA reinvests a majority of its income from
its television and marketing partnerships into grassroots projects
and initiatives aimed at developing the game in its affiliated countries.
