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Created in 1904 with seven member nations, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football
Associations) is the international governing body of soccer. Soccer is the most widely
watched and played game in the world. FIFA organizes the World Cup, which takes place
every four years.
In many ways, the development of FIFA follows the organization of the sport of
football/soccer itself. At the start of the twentieth century it was primitive in its
organization and loosely structured. However, by the end of the century, FIFA had
affiliations in all six continents, with over 170 member countries. Alongside the
International Olympic Committee, FIFA is the largest sports organization in the world.
At the time of FIFA's creation, soccer had gained a following in several countries, in large
part due to British settlements. It was not until 1863 that the sports of soccer and rugby
were formally separated in England. While both sports were important in British culture
in the nineteenth century, it was soccer that took off around the world at a much more
accelerated rate. As the twentieth century progressed, countries like Holland, Germany,
Spain, Brazil, and many others became as good as, and in many cases better at the game
than, the founding country.
The World Cup began in 1930 in Uruguay. By then, FIFA had attained enough power and
the game was so widespread that a world championship was justified. By the time the
1998 World Cup was staged in France, 112 countries competed. Despite the sport
originating in England, that country did not win a World Cup until 1966.
One notable exception to the soccer fanaticism that is seen in many countries around the
world is the U.S.A. There has always been a problem developing soccer in the country
that dominates so many other professional and amateur sports. One of the main reasons
for this is the country is inundated with its professional sports system. For one reasons
or another, the U.S.A. has opted for sports traditionally played in relatively few countries:
American-style football, basketball, and what many consider to be the quintessential
American sport, baseball. There is also the problem soccer presents for American
television networks.
Successful sports in the U.S.A. have usually been ones appropriate for commercial
television. Soccer, with its two 45-minute halves and long, uninterrupted play, is less than
ideal for commercials and advertising-based American television.
The most recent evolution in soccer has been in the women's game. The 1999 Women's
World Cup held in the U.S.A. was an unqualified success. Indeed, FIFA's president
proclaimed that "the future of football is female."