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

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)

English Premier League & UK Leagues

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

Italy Serie A & Mediterranean National Leagues

Spain La Liga & Iberia

Germany Bundesliga & Central and Northern European Leagues

France Ligue 1-4

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.

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}

1. Go Barbados (2022) St. Patrick’s  Roman Catholic Cathedral [Internet] Available from: https://barbados.org/churches/stpatrick.htm#.YlKtYpHMI2w [Accessed 10 April 2022] ↩︎
2. Irish America (2022) The Irish of Barbados [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishamerica.com/2015/10/the-irish-of-barbados-photos/#:~:text=Captain%20West%20was%20instructed%20to%20return%20to%20London,sold%20in%20Barbados%20for%20between%20%C2%A310%20and%20%C2%A335. [Accessed 10 April 2022] ↩︎

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

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.

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.

Australia A-League & Oceania

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).

International Cups

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.