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.
Picture Credit: Mexico 1970 Official Programme – Authors own collection
Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA)
FIFA World Cup; FIFA World Club Cup
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Final Tables (Editions)
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers South America Results (Editions):
Qatar 2022 (Pending Review)
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers North, Central America & Caribbean Results (Editions):
Qatar 2022 (Pending Review)
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Africa Results (Editions):
Qatar 2022 (Pending Review)
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Asia Results (Editions):
Qatar 2022 (Pending Review)
FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals Results (Editions):
Republic of Ireland Qualified and played in Group A
FIFA Club Competitions
FIFA Club World Cup (Editions):
Picture Credit: Shamrock Rovers FC v LA Galaxy International Club Friendly Official Match Programme – Tallaght Stadium 21st February 2015 – Author’s Personal Collection
International Pre-Season Tournaments
Preseason Tournaments (Europe, South America, CONCACAF, Asia); International Leagues held in USA & Canada; World Club Preseason Friendly Tours.
International Tournaments held in Europe
Rothmans International Tournament Malta (Editions):
Makita International Tournament (London – Editions):
Maspalomas Tournamemt (Las Palmas – Editions):
International Tournaments held in South America
CSF Summer Octagonal Tournament (Editions):
Quadrangular International Tournament (Editions):
1991 (Pending Review)
International Tournaments held in CONCACAF
Marlboro / US Cup (USA – Editions)
Soccer Bowl (Trindad & Tobago – Editions)
Final: Trinidad & Tobago 1 League of Ireland XI 0
Pacific Coast International Championship (Editions):
International Tournaments held in Asia
Kirin Cup (Japan – Editions):
President’s Cup (South Korea – Editions):
Sharjah Tournament (UAE – Editions):
Merlion Cup (Singapore – Editions):
Merdeka / Dunhill Tournament (Malaysia – Editions):
Carlsberg Challenge (Hong Kong – Editions):
International Club Leagues Held in USA & Canada
International Champions Cup (Seasons):
United Soccer Association
International Soccer League 1960-1965 (Pending Review)
World Club Preseason Friendly Tours
South American Teams World Tours (Preseasons):
North American Teams World Tours (Preseasons):
Preseason Tours of North America (Preseasons):
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).
FIFA Inter-Continental Competitions
Pan-American Games; CIS Cups; Pan-Arab Competitions; Idian Ocean Games
Pan-American Tournaments
Pan-American Games Soccer Tournament (Editions):
Inter-American Club Cup (Editions):
CIS Competitions
FIFA CIS & Baltic Commonwealth Champions Cup (Seasons):
USSR Soccer League Champions (Levels 1-4) (Seasons):
Central Asian Football Associations (CAFA) National Leagues (Seasons):
Pan-Arab Competitions
King Hussain Tournament (Seasons):
Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation Gulf Cup (Seasons):
Indian Ocean Games
Indian Ocean Games Soccer Tournament (Editions):
FA (England)
The Football Association of England is the oldest Soccer Association in the World.
FA England
Football Association Premier League
FA English Premier League (Seasons):
English Soccer Organisation:
The Football League 1888-1991
English Football League & Non-League Champions (Seasons):
1980-81 Champions: Aston Villa FC
Irish Player: Eamonn Deacy (Aston Villa FC)
Preseason Tournaments
Watney Preseason Cup (Derby – Editions):
Minor Leagues
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).
For Football Association (England) please go to
Picture Credit: UEFA European Qualifiers -Ireland v Gibraltar Official Match Programme AVIVA Stadium 11 October 2014 – Author’s Personal Collection
Union of European Football Associations
European Championships; UEFA Regions Cup; UEFA Amateur Championship; UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; UEFA Women’s Champions League
UEFA National Competitions
UEFA U18 European Championships (Editions):
UEFA European Regions Cup (Editions):
UEFA European Amateur Championship (Editons):
European Club Football Proposals
UEFA Club Competitions
UEFA Champions League Finals (Editions):
UEFA Europa League Finals (Editions):
UEFA Women’s Champions League Finals (Editions):
Picture Credit: Shamrock Rovers FC v Liverpool FC Official Match Programme – AVIVA Stadium Dublin 14th May 2014 – Author’s Personal Collection
UEFA Regional Competitions
Baltic Cup; Anglo-Italian Cups; Atlantic Isles Cups
UEFA Regional National Competitions
UEFA Baltic Cup (Editions):
UEFA Regional Club Competitions
The Fiorucci Cup and the Anglo-Italian Cup were Cup Competitions featuring Premier League and Serie A sides (Fiorucci Trophy) and English Football League and Serie B teams (Anglo-Italian Cup)
Fiorucci Trophy (London – Editions):
Anglo-Italian Cup (Editions):
The Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup features teams from the Scottish Football League, Highland Football League, Lowland Football League, Scottish Premier Football League U21s, English National League, Welsh Premier League, The Northern Ireland Football League and the League of Ireland.
Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup (Seasons):
Picture Credit: Frank Stapleton, Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Ireland Birthday Card – Author’s Personal Collection
UEFA National Leagues
Celtic Nations; Scandinavian & Baltic Nations; FA Premier League;
Celtic & Atlantic Nations
UEFA Celtic Nations Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Scottish Football League Timeline:
Welsh Premier League Final Tables (IRL & NIR Players)
FEFA Basque Provinces Champions lists
FEFA Spain North Region / Basque Country Champions Lists
Mediterranean Nations
UEFA Mediterranean National Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
French Soccer Leagues Champions (Seasons):
Scandinavia & Baltic Nations
UEFA Scandinavian & Baltic National Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Central European Nations
UEFA Central European National Leagues Final Tables (Seasons):
Eastern European Nations
Eastern European Final Tables (Irish Players)
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.
CSF South American Soccer
Preseason Tournaments; CBF Brazilian State Leagues
International Cups
Baqueron Cup (Paraguay):
Paz del Chaco Cup (Bolivia-Paraguay)(Editions):
CSF South American Club Cups
CSF South American Masters Tournament (Schedules):
Played at Velez Sarsfield’s Stadium in Argentina.
Argentina FA Final Tables
Velez Sarsfield – named after Irish-Argentine Patriot.
Venezuela FA Final Tables
Galicia – named after Atlantic Celtic Region of NW Spain.
Brazilian State Championships
Expressinho – Founded on St. Patrick’s Day 1975 and play in Green.
Rio & Sao Paulo State Championships (Seasons):
CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American & Caribbean Football Associations)
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.
CONCACAF’s Primary Competitions are the Gold Cup (CONCACAF Nations Championship) and CONCACAF Club Championship.
CONCACAF Soccer
FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers
FIFA CONCACAF Qualifying Tournaments
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Editions):
Qatar 2022 (Pending Review)
CONCACAF Club Competitions
CONCACAF Champions League (Seasons):
CONCACAF Cup-Winners’ Cup (Seasons):
Irish Connection: Atletico Marte (El Salvador – Champions 1991)
International Club Tournaments held in CONCACAF
International Champions Cup (Results):
United Soccer Association
International Champions Cup Women (Results):
North American Football Union
Campeones Cup; Leagues Cup
NAFU North American Football Union Campeones Cup 2018-Present (Pending Review)
Leagues Cup (Seasons):
2019 (Pending Review)
NAFU National League Final Tables (Seasons):
United States Soccer Federation
USSF Leagues; MLS; USL; NPSL
United States Soccer Leagues (USA):
USSF Divisions 1-5
Major League Soccer [D1] (Seasons):
Irish Players: Derrick Williams (LA Galaxy); Jon Gallagher (Austin FC); Jake Mullraney (Atlanta United).
United Soccer League Championship [D2] (Seasons):
USL Championship 2022: 7 Irish Players
United Soccer League 1 [D3] (Seasons):
United Soccer League 2 [D4] (Seasons):
National Premier Soccer League [D5] (Seasons):
Other USSF Competitions
Major League Soccer (Preseasons):
US Soccer Werner Fricker Cup (Seasons):
Soccer Canada
Soccer Canada
Canadian Soccer Association
Canadian Championship [Major Premier Cup] (Seasons):
Canadian Premier League [D1] (Seasons):
UNCAF Central America
UNCAF; CFU; Soccer Canada
UNCAF (Union Centroamericano de Futbol)
Central American Games Soccer Tournament (Editons):
Central American Championship (Editions):
UNCAF Central American National Leagues (Seasons):
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. [References: 3,4]
[3] Go Barbados (2022) St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral [Internet] Available from: https://barbados.org/churches/stpatrick.htm#.YlKtYpHMI2w [Accessed 10 April 2022]
[4] 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]
CFU Caribbean Football Union
CFU Caribbean Cup
CFU Caribbean Cup (Editions):
Trinidad 2007: Barbados finished 4th in Sydney Joseph Group
Haiti Championnat National Division Ligue 1
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).
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.
Bloemfontein, South Africa
G
Royalty-free stock photo ID: 1704541288
CAF Africa
Confederation of African Football Team Nicknames
CECAFA East & Central Africa
CECAFA Challenge Cup (Editions): 1989
Numerous Irish-named players playing for both National team and Premier League teams
COSAFA Southern Africa
COSAFA Castle Cup (Editions): 2000 1997
South Africa
National Soccer League Castle League (Top Division)
Bloemfontein Celtic, with the name of the famous Glasgow Irish Soccer Club played in the National Soccer League.
West Africa
Cabral Cup (Editions): 1997
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.
Flag of New Zealand – Isolated by Enda Mulcahy for Eirball from Vector Contributor: grebeshkovmaximall world countries national flags [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/all-world-countries-national-flags-1610621497 [Accessed 12 July 2022]
Soccer New Zealand
SNZ
Soccer New Zealand
1962 League Champions: Northern (Dunedin), 1962 Cup Champions: Hamilton Technical Old Boys, 1962 Irish Connection: Shamrock (Christchurch)
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.
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.
CONIFA Soccer
CONIFA; VIVA
CONIFA (Federation of Independent Football Federations)
CONIFA World Football Cup (Editions):
CONIFA World Football Cup Africa Qualifying (Editions):
CONIFA European Football Cup (Editions):
NF-Board (New Federation Board)
VIVA World Cup (Editions):
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.
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.
IIGA (International Island Games Association)
IIGA;
IIGA Island Games Football (Editions):
Royalty-free stock vector ID: 564515431
Flags of Europe . Vector
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.
Other Soccer Nations and States
Vatican City State;
Vatican City State Football
(Non-CONIFA and Non-FIFA, has played both CONIFA and FIFA countries).
World Women’s Soccer
FIFA organises World events for Women’s Soccer as well as the Men’s. In addition to the FIFA Women’s World Cup there is also UEFA and other continental associations. The National Women’s Soccer League in USA is a Major Professional League.
Picture Credit: UEFA Women’s European Championship Qualifiers Republic of Ireland v Spain Official Match Programme – Tallaght Stadium 26th November 2015 – Author’s Personal Collection
Arena Soccer (North America) and Futsal (South America)
Arena Soccer was codified in Canada and is played on converted Ice Hockey rinks. There is no out-of-bounds and the ball may bounce off the wall back into play. Futsal (Futbol de Salon – literally Indoor Football) was codified in Uruguay in 1930 and is played on the same court as Olympic (Team) Handball. There are out-of-bounds lines as in standard 11-a-side Soccer but in the case of Futsal the ball must be kicked back into play rather than thrown. In both Arena Soccer and Futsal the attacking team must pass the ball into a semi-circle surrounding the defending team’s goal before they are allowed to shoot. Goals are the smaller Ice Hockey and Olympic Handball goals respectively.
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UEFA Futsal Cup
UEFA Futsal Cup
UEFA Futsal Championship (Editions):
2009-10 (Pending Review)
UEFA Futsal Champions League (Results)
UEFA Futsal Cup (Overviews):
Arena Soccer was invented in Canada, and is played on a converted Ice Hockey Arena, with walls rather than an out of bounds line. It is primarily played in the Canada, USA & Mexico, where there is a Major Professional League, Major Arena Soccer League.
Arena Soccer Leagues
MASL, PASL, MISL
Major Arena Soccer Leagues
Major Arena Soccer League 2014-Present
Professional Arena Soccer League 2011-2014
Major Indoor Soccer League 2009-2014
Division 2 Arena Soccer Leagues
Major Arena Soccer League 2 2017-2020
Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos