At the beginning of the twentieth century, football had spread rapidly across Europe, and matches between national teams were becoming more common. However, there was no international organization responsible for 3 things:
- coordinating competitions;
- standardizing regulations;
- or resolving disputes between national football associations.
As a result, football leaders recognized the need for a governing body that could oversee the sport on a global scale.
FIFA was founded by representatives of 7 national football associations: Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. If you register into 1xBet, you can also bet on football tournaments from those countries too.
Spain was represented by Madrid Football Club because the Royal Spanish Football Federation had not yet been established. Germany also declared its intention to join on the same day by sending a telegram, although it is not considered one of the original 7 founding members.
Bringing football organizations together
The driving force behind FIFA’s creation was the French sports journalist and football administrator Robert Guérin, who became the organization’s 1st president. Under his leadership, the founding members agreed to create a permanent international federation that would promote cooperation among national associations, organize international matches, and ensure that the Laws of the Game were applied consistently across countries.
One of FIFA’s first objectives was to encourage friendly competition and strengthen relationships between football associations. The organization also sought to recognize only one official football association from each country, creating a clear structure for international participation. Although the British football associations, which had played a major role in developing the modern game, did not join FIFA immediately, the new organization continued to expand and attract members from around the world.
During its early years, FIFA faced several challenges, including limited financial resources and the disruptions caused by the First World War. Nevertheless, it gradually strengthened its influence and became the leading authority in international football. In 1930, FIFA organized the first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay, marking a historic milestone that transformed football into the world’s most popular sport.
