FIFA is the largest sports governing body in the world, responsible for managing major international soccer tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup. It has over 200 members and operates internationally, with confederations governing the game on different continents. FIFA also manages other competitions, including those for under-17 and under-20 players, women, and modified forms of soccer. Its intellectual property value has become very valuable, with football simulation games released each year.
FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing association of the sport of soccer, known as soccer in the United States. In fact, it is the largest sports governing body in the world. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, this organization is responsible for managing major international soccer tournaments, the most important of which is the FIFA World Cup. The World Cup, held every four years, is a competition between men’s teams representing various nations. Over 200 associations are members of the organization, making it the second largest international association in the world, with the United Nations being the largest.
The need for a single association to oversee the world game prompted the founding of FIFA in Paris on 21 May 1904. The original membership belonged to seven European countries, although within several years membership began to expand beyond the European continent . The first non-European country to join was South Africa in 1909, followed by Argentina, Chile and the United States in subsequent years. After the success of the competitions and the growing popularity of football, FIFA began to seriously consider staging their own regular world championship. The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. The next World Cup was later held in Italy in 1934.
This organization not only operates internationally but also has confederations that govern the game on different continents and regions of the world. Most national associations qualify their teams for entry into FIFA competitions by claiming membership of both FIFA and their region’s confederation.
In addition to its management of the World Cup and involvement in Olympic competitions, FIFA also manages the World Championships for under-17 and under-20 players. It has also introduced the Confederations Cup, a competition held every four years for champions from each confederation along with the world hosts and World Cup winners. It also presides over World Cup tournaments aimed specifically at women, club competitions and modified forms of soccer, including beach football and futsal or indoor soccer.
The intellectual property value, including profits from merchandising, of this association has become very valuable. Football simulation games for personal computers and other gaming consoles are released each year, with additional World Cup-branded releases corresponding to tournaments.
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