SportAccord Competitors

Founded in 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the umbrella organisation of its members, currently 211 national football associations. Its main objectives, enshrined in its statutes, are to develop football around the world, to stage international competitions and to protect the integrity of football (against match manipulation, doping etc.). FIFA is composed of a number of political bodies (such as the FIFA Congress and the FIFA Council) and the administration. The highest political position is the FIFA President, elected every four years by FIFA’s member associations. The FIFA administration, with more than 800 people from over 60 nations, is based in Zurich. It is run by the Secretary General (CEO). FIFA stages FIFA World Cups™ in various forms such as youth, men’s and women’s, futsal, beach soccer or club competitions. The men’s FIFA World Cup™ is not only the most popular single sporting event in the world but also the financial backbone for FIFA and its efforts to develop football worldwide. The financial success of the FIFA World Cup™ allows FIFA to run a wide range of football development programmes and to provide funds, infrastructure and know-how to its member associations through the FIFA Forward Development Programme. For more information visit our website.

UEFA – the Union of European Football Associations – we are the game's governing body in Europe. We are a representative democracy, and the umbrella organisation for 55 national football associations across Europe. Our objectives are, among other things, to deal with all questions relating to European football, to promote football in a spirit of unity, solidarity, peace, understanding and fair play, without any discrimination on the part of politics, race, religion, gender or any other reason, to safeguard the values of European football, maintain relations with all stakeholders involved in European football, and support and safeguard its member associations for the overall well-being of the European game. We have a clear vision: a united European football family working together to improve enjoyment of the game.

FIBA - the world governing body for basketball - is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). FIBA is a non-profit making organization and, in principle, does not pursue any objective of economic character for its own gains. What we do: • FIBA runs the FIBA Basketball World Cup and FIBA Basketball Women's World Cup every four years • FIBA establishes the Official Basketball Rules, the specifications for equipment and facilities, and all internal executive regulations that must be applied to all international and Olympic competitions, for which FIBA also establishes the system of competition • FIBA controls and governs the appointment of international referees • FIBA regulates the transfer of players from one country to another • FIBA controls and governs all international competitions.