FIFA Official Website

International Federation of Association Football (International Federation of Association Football, FIFA) referred to as FIFA, by the initiative of Belgium, France, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland, was founded on May 21, 1904 in Paris, France. There are currently 208 member associations. FIFA is a member of the Federation of International Sports Federations. The working languages are English, French, Spanish and German; in case of language conflict, English prevails. FIFA has six regional organizations: Europe, Asia, Africa, North and Central America and the Caribbean, South America and Oceania. The mission of FIFA is: to promote the development of the game of soccer; to develop friendly relations between association members, officials and players through the organization of competitions at all levels (amateur, non-amateur, professional) and other means; to implement the statutes of the federation, resolutions of the congresses and the rules of the game; to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, political and religious beliefs. The World Cup is FIFA's main marketing tool and has a huge audience. FIFA receives huge financial benefits from tickets, television rights, sponsorships and deals. In addition, it is partly financed by membership fees and entry fees. FIFA organized tournaments are: the World Cup (since 1930, every four years), the Olympic Games (officially listed as the Olympic Games in 1912, every four years), the World Youth Football Championships (that is, the Coca-Cola Cup, since 1977, every two years), the World Under-17 Championships (since 1985, every two years), the Futsal World Championships, the World Women's Football Championships. World Under-17 Championship (every two years since 1985), Futsal World Championship, and Women's World Championship.