FIFA is made up of 211 national football associations, organized across six regional confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA. These members represent countries and some territories, so FIFA membership does not always match the number of independent nations.
Below, you’ll find the associations grouped by confederation, along with a clear explanation of what membership means. You’ll also see why some places have their own national teams, how FIFA and continental bodies differ, and what to know about territories and suspended associations.
what football associations make up fifa?
FIFA has 211 member associations. Each association governs football in its own area and represents that area in FIFA competitions and decisions. Members are grouped into six regional confederations, which organize competitions and support football development in their regions.
Here is the membership breakdown by confederation. The numbers below count FIFA member associations, not every organization affiliated with a confederation. Some confederations also include members that are not FIFA members.
| Confederation | Region | FIFA member associations | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | Asia | 46 | Asian national-team and club competitions |
| CAF | Africa | 54 | African national-team and club competitions |
| Concacaf | North America, Central America, and the Caribbean | 35 | Regional competitions and World Cup qualification |
| CONMEBOL | South America | 10 | South American national-team and club competitions |
| OFC | Oceania | 11 | Pacific regional competitions |
| UEFA | Europe | 55 | European national-team and club competitions |
| Total | Worldwide | 211 | FIFA’s global membership |
The six confederations are regional bodies, not separate levels of FIFA membership. A national association is a member of FIFA and generally belongs to one confederation at the same time. The association manages football at home; its confederation coordinates regional competitions and activities.
The 46 AFC associations in Asia
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) includes 46 FIFA member associations. Its membership covers countries across Asia as well as Australia, which competes in Asian football after moving from the Oceania confederation in 2006.
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- China PR
- Chinese Taipei
- Guam
- Hong Kong, China
- India
- Indonesia
- IR Iran
- Iraq
- Japan
- Jordan
- Korea DPR
- Korea Republic
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Lebanon
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Not every AFC member is a FIFA member. For example, the Northern Mariana Islands is affiliated with the AFC but is not one of FIFA’s 211 member associations. That distinction explains why counts for a confederation can differ depending on whether a source is counting all confederation members or only FIFA members.
The 54 CAF associations in Africa
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has 54 FIFA member associations, the largest number of any confederation. Its members represent countries throughout the continent and take part in African competitions and FIFA qualification events.
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The 35 Concacaf associations
Concacaf governs football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its 35 FIFA member associations include large countries, small island nations, and some territories. The organization also has affiliated members that are not FIFA members, so its overall membership is larger than the number listed here.
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States
- U.S. Virgin Islands
The 10 CONMEBOL associations in South America
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has 10 FIFA member associations. It has fewer members than any other confederation, but its members include some of the sport’s longest-standing national teams.
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
French Guiana is geographically in South America and participates in Concacaf competitions, but it is not a FIFA member association. Its example shows why geography alone does not determine which confederation a team competes in.
The 11 OFC associations in Oceania
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) represents 11 FIFA member associations across the Pacific region. Australia used to belong to the OFC but joined the AFC in 2006. New Zealand is the region’s best-known FIFA member, while the other associations represent Pacific island nations and territories.
- American Samoa
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tahiti
- Tonga
- Vanuatu
The 55 UEFA associations in Europe
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has 55 FIFA member associations. Its membership includes national associations for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which are separate football members despite being parts of the United Kingdom. UEFA also includes associations whose territory is wholly or partly outside the usual geographic definition of Europe.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- England
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Northern Ireland
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Ireland
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- Wales
FIFA membership and permission to compete are not always the same thing. Russia remains a member association but has been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions. Membership status, competition eligibility, and an association’s ability to enter a particular tournament are separate matters.
Why FIFA membership does not equal a list of countries
FIFA members are national football associations, not necessarily sovereign states. Some territories have their own association and national team, and FIFA may admit an association from a territory that is not an independent country. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are familiar examples; Hong Kong, the Faroe Islands, and Puerto Rico are others.
That is why FIFA has more members than the United Nations has member states. The associations exist to govern the game in their respective football jurisdictions. Their recognition for football does not settle political questions about sovereignty or statehood.
Names also may not match everyday country names exactly. FIFA uses labels such as China PR, Korea DPR, and Korea Republic to distinguish teams. A different label does not mean a different organization; it is the name used in football competition and membership records.
What FIFA, a national association, and a confederation each do
FIFA is the international governing body for association football. It sets global rules and frameworks, organizes major international competitions, and coordinates with its member associations and regional confederations. It does not directly run every local league or national team program.
A national association governs football in its own member territory. It may oversee national teams, domestic competitions, referee systems, coaching programs, and the rules that apply to clubs in its jurisdiction. The exact responsibilities differ by association.
A confederation coordinates football across a region. It runs regional tournaments, administers regional qualification pathways, and works with its member associations. For example, UEFA organizes European club and national-team competitions, while CAF performs that regional role in Africa.
These bodies work together, but they are not interchangeable. If you are trying to find a national team’s governing body, look for the relevant national association. If you want regional tournament information, check its confederation. FIFA is the global-level body.
Common points that cause confusion
FIFA is not made up of six confederations alone
The confederations are regional groupings. FIFA membership belongs to the individual associations, not only to the six regional organizations. Counting six confederations does not mean FIFA has six members.
A confederation can have non-FIFA members
Some regional bodies accept associations that are not FIFA members. Therefore, a confederation’s full membership count may be higher than the number of FIFA members in that region. Always check whether a figure refers to FIFA affiliates or all confederation members.
One country can have more than one association in FIFA
The United Kingdom’s four football associations are the clearest example. FIFA membership reflects football governance and historical arrangements, not a simple one-country, one-member rule. Separate associations can enter separate national teams in international competitions.
Membership does not guarantee tournament participation
A member association may be unable to compete in a specific event because of suspension, qualification results, or other eligibility rules. Being listed as a member is not proof that its team can enter every competition.
How to check a membership list accurately
- Decide what you are counting. Are you looking for FIFA members, confederation members, countries, or teams eligible for a particular tournament? Those lists can differ.
- Group members by confederation. Use AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA to see the regional structure.
- Separate membership from eligibility. Check whether an association is a member and whether it is currently allowed to compete.
- Use the association’s football name. Some official names differ from common country names, especially for territories or associations with multiple national teams.
A practical detail that often gets missed: do not infer political status from FIFA membership. FIFA’s membership decisions serve football administration and competition. They are not a substitute for a country list, a diplomatic recognition list, or a map of sovereign states.
In short, what football associations make up fifa is answered by its 211 member associations across six confederations. Their membership includes independent countries and some territories, while a few confederations also have non-FIFA affiliates.
For a particular team, first identify its national association, then check its confederation and current competition eligibility. That distinction helps you avoid mixing up football membership with country status or tournament access.