If you mean association football governed by FIFA, there are 211 FIFA member associations. That is the clearest answer to how many football associations are there, but it does not mean there are 211 independent countries.
FIFA membership includes national governing bodies representing countries and territories. Those associations are organized into six continental confederations, which run competitions and administer football in their regions.
This article explains what the figure counts, why it differs from the number of countries, how the confederations fit in, and what to check when you see another total. It also distinguishes FIFA members from local leagues and other football organizations.
how many football associations are there according to FIFA?
FIFA has 211 member associations. These are the governing bodies that FIFA recognizes as members of international association football’s worldwide organization. They represent national teams and oversee parts of the sport in their respective jurisdictions.
The number is about FIFA membership, not every organization that uses the word “football association.” A country may have thousands of clubs, regional associations, leagues, and refereeing bodies, but those are not all individual FIFA members. In everyday sports reporting, the question usually refers to FIFA’s national member associations.
FIFA membership can change if an association is admitted, suspended, or otherwise has its status changed. For a current count, use FIFA’s official member-association directory rather than assuming a figure from an older article still applies. The widely cited total is 211.
What does “football association” mean?
A football association is a governing body responsible for organizing and administering association football in a defined area. Its responsibilities can include managing national teams, setting or applying competition rules, organizing domestic tournaments, supporting referees, and developing youth football.
The word “association” refers to association football, the sport commonly called soccer in the United States and Canada. It helps distinguish this game from other sports also called football, such as American football, Canadian football, and rugby football.
A national association is not the same as a professional league. For example, a league organizes competitions for its member clubs, while the national association usually has wider responsibility for the sport and may oversee national teams and the broader competition structure. The exact division of duties varies by country.
FIFA, a confederation, and a national association
These three terms describe different levels of football governance. FIFA is the global governing organization. A confederation administers football across a continent or region. A national association governs the game in its own territory and may belong to FIFA and one confederation.
For example, a national association can compete in its confederation’s tournaments while also sending teams to FIFA competitions. The confederation does not replace FIFA, and it is not a separate national association for every country in its region.
Why 211 associations does not mean 211 countries
FIFA membership is not a simple count of sovereign states. A FIFA member is an association recognized within football’s governing system; it does not necessarily represent a fully independent country. Some territories have their own football associations and national teams, while some sovereign states do not have FIFA membership.
The United Kingdom is a familiar example of why the count can surprise people. It has four FIFA member associations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They each have their own national team and football administration. This arrangement is specific to football governance and does not mean each is a separate sovereign country.
FIFA membership also should not be treated as a list of United Nations members. The two organizations have different purposes and membership rules. A territory’s status in international football does not, by itself, settle questions of political sovereignty or diplomatic recognition.
Useful distinction: “country,” “territory,” and “FIFA member association” are not interchangeable terms. If an article says there are more football associations than countries, it is usually counting football jurisdictions rather than independent states.
How the six football confederations fit together
FIFA’s member associations are grouped into six continental confederations. These bodies coordinate regional football, hold competitions, and represent their member associations within the international game. They are not six additional FIFA members; they are regional organizations made up of associations.
| Confederation | Region generally covered | Examples of its role |
|---|---|---|
| AFC | Asia | Runs regional club and national-team competitions. |
| CAF | Africa | Organizes African national-team and club tournaments. |
| Concacaf | North America, Central America, and the Caribbean | Coordinates competitions and administration across its region. |
| CONMEBOL | South America | Runs major South American national-team and club competitions. |
| OFC | Oceania | Organizes regional competitions and football development. |
| UEFA | Europe | Administers European national-team and club competitions. |
The table describes each confederation’s broad region, not a strict map of political borders. Football membership and geographic or political boundaries do not always align neatly. The important point is that an association’s confederation is its regional football home, while FIFA is the global body.
Confederation membership totals may not add up to FIFA’s 211. A confederation can have members that are not FIFA members, and membership categories or status can differ. So do not calculate FIFA’s total by adding figures from separate confederation lists unless those lists use the same membership definition and date.
What the 211 FIFA associations do
FIFA member associations serve as the main link between the global game and football within their jurisdictions. Their duties differ, but often include managing the national team, registering clubs and players, running or sanctioning competitions, and applying the Laws of the Game in organized matches.
Associations may also oversee refereeing, coaching education, youth programs, women’s football, futsal, and other parts of the sport. In some places, separate bodies or leagues handle some of these tasks. The association’s precise role depends on local rules and how football is organized.
At international level, membership gives an association a place in FIFA’s governing structure and a route into eligible competitions. Membership does not guarantee that every team will qualify for a tournament. Teams still have to meet competition requirements and, in most cases, earn qualification through matches.
National associations also connect local football to regional confederations. A club may compete in a domestic league organized under national rules, then qualify for a confederation competition through its results. National teams can likewise enter regional qualifying or championship tournaments.
Why different sources may give different totals
Not every source uses “football association” to mean a FIFA member association. One list may count only FIFA members. Another may include confederation members that are not FIFA members, while a local directory might count regional or state associations. Those totals answer different questions, so a difference is not automatically an error.
There are several common reasons for conflicting numbers:
- Different organizations: FIFA, a confederation, and a domestic governing body maintain separate membership lists.
- Different definitions: A source might count national associations, territories, leagues, or local affiliates.
- Different dates: Membership can change, and published pages are not always updated at the same time.
- Different statuses: Some lists include suspended, associate, or non-FIFA members; others do not.
When checking a figure, look for the name of the organization that published it and what its count includes. “FIFA has 211 member associations” is more precise than saying “there are 211 football associations worldwide,” because the broader wording could include organizations outside FIFA.
Is every national team a FIFA member?
No. A team appearing in a friendly, regional event, or unofficial competition is not necessarily a FIFA member. Some teams represent territories or communities that have a football association but are not full FIFA members. Others may compete under a separate organization or in competitions with different eligibility rules.
Also, a FIFA member association and its national team are not the same thing. The association is the governing organization; the team is one of the squads it selects and administers. An association may manage several national teams, including men’s, women’s, youth, and futsal teams.
Membership status matters for official FIFA competitions. A team’s participation depends on the rules of the specific tournament and the status of its association. Seeing a team in a match or tournament does not, on its own, prove that its association belongs to FIFA.
How to verify the number for a specific purpose
If you are writing a report, checking a team’s eligibility, or comparing football organizations, use a precise method rather than relying on a headline. This quick process helps you identify the right total:
- Decide what you are counting. Choose between FIFA members, confederation members, sovereign countries, or all football governing bodies.
- Check the organization’s directory. Use FIFA’s member-association list for the global FIFA total, or the relevant confederation’s directory for a regional count.
- Read the membership label. Look for terms such as full member, associate member, or non-FIFA member.
- Check the date and status. Confirm that the list is current and note any suspensions or recent changes.
This avoids a common mistake: comparing one organization’s total with another organization’s count as though they measured the same thing. If you need a simple general answer, state that FIFA has 211 member associations, then clarify that associations do not correspond one-to-one with independent countries.
What the number does—and does not—tell you
The figure of 211 shows the reach of FIFA’s membership network. It tells you how many associations belong to the global governing body under the count being cited. It does not tell you how many countries exist, how many professional leagues operate, or how many football clubs are active.
It also does not measure how popular football is in each place. FIFA membership says something about formal governance and participation in the international system, not the size of a fan base or the quality of local football. A small association and a large association each count as one member.
For comparisons, keep the unit consistent. Use FIFA member associations to compare FIFA membership, confederation members to compare regional organizations, and national teams or clubs only when the question is specifically about teams or clubs. Clear wording makes the number useful rather than misleading.
The direct answer to how many football associations are there is 211 FIFA member associations. That figure counts governing bodies in FIFA’s membership system, not 211 independent countries or every local football organization.
For a specific count, first decide whether you mean FIFA members, confederation members, or domestic associations. Then check the relevant organization’s current directory and state exactly what the number includes.