Non-FIFA international football is the segment of international football that is not overseen by FIFA. FIFA is the international governing body of association football, overseeing football globally and with running international representative matches. However, some international football takes place outside its purview. This often consists of matches involving sub-national entities such as islands, colonies, or autonomous regions. Representative matches also occur involving states with limited international recognition who are unable to qualify for FIFA membership. There are also a limited number of states whose representative teams are not affiliated to FIFA. Historically, a number of competitions occurred outside FIFA's auspices.[1] [2] Member associations are national associations, usually affiliated to continental confederations which are subordinate to FIFA.[3]
Broadly speaking, non-FIFA national teams can be categorised as one of the following:
Teams representing eight small sovereign states – the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, and the Vatican City – have played international football but are not affiliated to FIFA. Two of those states – Kiribati and Tuvalu – are Associate Members of Oceania Football Confederation, but not its parent organisation.
The United Kingdom is represented in FIFA through its four constituent countries (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland). During the 1940s and 1950s, a United Kingdom national football team was assembled on a few occasions to play friendly matches: these are not considered full internationals by FIFA.
A second category encompasses regions of larger nations which have a history of autonomy. They may have already achieved a degree of self-governance (for example the autonomous communities of Spain including Catalonia, Galicia, and the Basque Country which usually play just one game a year, traditionally at Christmas), or be seeking it (like for example the French region of Brittany). However, it is necessary to distinguish the Basque team from the others, as it has come to represent not just the Basque autonomous community of Spain, but the greater Basque region, also incorporating Navarre and the French Basque Country.The Republic of Srpska as a state entity with a high degree of autonomy, has ever since it was established in 1992 had its own football federation and national teams Republika Srpska national football team who play friendly matches. The Dayton Peace Treaty recognizes it as a constitutive part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in 2002 both FIFA and UEFA accepted FA Republic of Srpska as one of two cofounders of FA BIH.
Alternatively, some unrecognised states may have national teams. Some established members of FIFA still fall into this category, such as Chinese Taipei. Current non-FIFA heavyweights Northern Cyprus are the best example of this category of non-FIFA football team.
Several teams which represent the regional associations of established footballing nations. These oversee local football in their respective regions and are part of a network of associations that contribute to the national association as a whole. A good example of this would be Jersey, who hold county status within the Football Association. These regional associations often enter representative teams into international non-FIFA matches.
Another group of teams are representative sides of ethnic groups that are without a home state, or are drawn from an ethnic diaspora. The Sami people of Lapland live in a distinct area of northern Fennoscandia, yet fall under the control of four states. Nevertheless, they have organised a football association and a representative team. Similarly, the Romani people—having been strewn across Europe for centuries—have a fledgeling footballing organisation to represent them in international competition. Other people who were stateless, such as the Palestinians have been welcomed into FIFA and despite their state, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) only more recently recognised them in international football. The Esperanto football team represents the worldwide community of Esperanto speakers.
Football tournaments at international multi-sports events, such as the Olympics, Pan-American Games and Francophone games are without FIFA's jurisdiction, but are, for the most part, operated with the acknowledgement of that body. These events typically involve age restricted teams, to avoid direct competition with the World Cup and continental championships.
The UNPO Cup was organised by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization and NF-Board, and took place in The Hague in June 2005. The tournament, which coincided with UNPO's 7th General Assembly, featured four teams. The South Moluccas won the cup, beating Chechnya in the final. A second UNPO football cup took place in June 2017, with the Chameria team winning the tournament.[6] [7]
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Netherlands | 2005 | ||
| Netherlands | 2017 |
See main article: article and ConIFA World Football Cup.
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | |||
| 2016 | |||
| 2018 | |||
| 2020 | N/A † | ||
| 2024 | N/A ‡ |
The Island Games, which are held every two years, features a competitive football tournament, won on the first two occasions by now-established UEFA and FIFA member, the Faroe Islands, and again in 2007 by now UEFA members, Gibraltar. Many of the competing nations are affiliated to larger national FAs – the Jersey Football Association, for example, is governed by the FA.
| Host | Year | Winners |
|---|---|---|
 Faroe Islands | 1989 | |
| 1991 | ||
| 1993 | ||
 Gibraltar | 1995 | |
| 1997 | ||
| 1999 | ||
| 2001 | ||
| 2003 | ||
| 2005 | ||
| 2007 | ||
| 2009 | ||
| 2011 | ||
 Bermuda | 2013 | |
| 2015 | ||
| 2017 | ||
| Gibraltar | 2019 | N/A † |
| 2021 | N/A ‡ | |
| 2023 | ||
| 2025 | ||
| Faroe Islands | 2027 | |
| 2029 | ||
† Ynys Mon hosted an unofficial 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament as Gibraltar did not have enough pitches.[8] Ynys Mon won the men's tournament and Isle of Man won the women's.
‡ 2021 Island Games postponed until 2023 due to COVID-19 with all previously announced host moved back 2 years.[9]
First held in 1979, the Indian Ocean Island Games have been held every 4–5 years since.
| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third-place | Fourth-place | Participation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (1979, 1998, 2007, 2015, 2019) | 3 (1985, 1993, 2003) | 1 (2011) | 8 | ||
| 2 (1985, 2003) | 3 (1990, 2011, 2019) | 2 (1993, 2015) | 3 (1979, 1998, 2007) | 9 | |
| 2 (1990, 1993) | 2 (1998, 2007) | 2 (1985, 2015) | 7 | ||
| 1 (2011) | 1 (1979) | 3 (1990, 1998, 2003) | 2 (1993, 2019) | 8 | |
| 1 (2015) | 2 (2007, 2019) | 1 (2011) | 3 | ||
| 2 (1979, 1985) | 2 (1990, 2003) | 8 | |||
| 3 | |||||
The Arabian Gulf Cup or Gulf Cup is a bi-annual competition that started in 1970 with 8 countries competing organised since 2016 by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation
| width=5% | Team | width=10% | Winners | width=10% | Runners-up | width=10% | Third place | width=10% | Fourth place | width=10% | Semi-finalists (no 3rd Place Match) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (1970, 1972, 1974*, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990*, 1996, 1998, 2010) | 1 (1979) | 2 (2002, 2013) | 1 (2004) | 1 (2009) | |||||||
| 4 (1979*, 1984, 1988, 2023*) | 2 (1976, 2013) | – | – | 3 (2010, 2017–18, 2019) | |||||||
| 3 (1994, 2002*, 2003–04) | 7 (1972*, 1974, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2014*, 2019) | 7 (1970, 1979, 1984, 1986, 1988*, 1992, 1996) | 1 (1982) | 1 (2007) | |||||||
| 3 (1992*, 2004*, 2014) | 4 (1984, 1990, 1996, 2002) | 2 (1976*, 2003–04) | 5 (1970, 1972, 1974, 1986, 1994) | 3 (2009, 2019*,2023) | |||||||
| 2 (2007*, 2013) | 4 (1986, 1988, 1994*, 2017–18) | 5 (1972, 1974, 1982*, 1998, 2014) | 3 (1984, 1992, 1996) | 1 (2010) | |||||||
| 2 (2009*, 2017–18) | 3 (2004, 2007, 2023) | – | 4 (1990, 1998, 2003–04, 2014) | – | |||||||
| 1 (2019) | 4 (1970*, 1982, 1992, 2003–04) | 3 (1990, 1994, 2004) | 5 (1976, 1979, 1988, 2002, 2013*) | 3 (2007, 2017–18, 2023) | |||||||
| – | – | – | – | – |
Note:
The ConIFA European Football Cup was originally announced to be held in Douglas, the Isle of Man, but this was later changed to include games in Farnborough and Woking, England. However, it was later moved entirely to Székely Land, Romania. The tournament took place from 13 to 21 June 2015. It was the first ever European Championship between representative teams outside FIFA. The 12 representative teams: Ellan Vannin, County of Nice, Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh, South Ossetia, Occitania, Romani People, Franconia, Sapmi, Northern Cyprus, Szekely Land and Padania.[10] Subsequently, 3 teams (Franconia, Monaco, Nagorno-Karabakh) cancelled their participation for the 2015 ConIFA European Football Cup in Hungary, which forced the originally planned schedule to be revised. The presence of a total of nine teams led to three groups of three being formed. In May 2015, Occitania also announced their withdrawal from the competition, which led to another revision of the match schedule into two groups of four, which ConIFA based upon their ranking points system. In June 2015, another three teams, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Northern Cyprus, were all forced to withdraw, as a result of visa difficulties, while the Felvidek team was added to the line up – leaving two groups of three and six participants in total.
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | |||
| 2017 | |||
| 2019 | |||
| 2021 | N/A† | ||
| 2023 | N/A‡ |
The Europeada is a football tournament for indigenous and national minorities in Europe, and is organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities. The first edition was played in 2008 in Surselva, Switzerland.[11]
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Switzerland | 2008 | ||
 Germany | 2012 | ||
 Italy | 2016 | ||
 Austria | 2022 | ||
 Denmark/ Germany | 2024 |
The Copa CSANF is a football tournament for football federations not admitted to FIFA in South America. Is organized by the CSANF – Consejo Sudamericano de Nuevas Federaciones. The first edition was played in 2011 in Chile.
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | |||
 Argentina | 2014 | Armenian Argentine Community |
The CSANF 10th Anniversary Cup is the third tournament which celebrates the 10 years of the creation of the CSANF.
The Campeonato Nacional de Futbol Pueblos Originarios (Copa ANPO) is a football tournament for the indigenous peoples of South America, and is organized by the Asociación Nacional de Pueblos Originarios. The inaugural tournament was played in 2012 in Chile. Campeonato de futbol Pueblos Originarios Asociacion Andina de Futbol played among six teams. Three teams come from the Mapuche people – the largest indigenous population in Chile. There is a Mapuche team, a Pewenche team (which is the term used for Mapuche populations living in the mountainous regions of Chile), and a Warriache team (composed of Mapuche individuals from the city). In addition, there is one Aymara team, one Lican Antay (or Atacameño) team, and one Rapa Nui team.[12]
The N.F.-Board's South American governing body CONMEBOLNFIFA have announced a preliminary date for the second Indigenous Peoples' Championship. Set for Santiago in Chile from August 5–10, 2013, the sides hoped to compete are Easter Island, Mapuche, Aymara, LikanAntay, Diaguita, Kolla, Quechua and a combined Yaghan-Kawesqar team.[13]
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chile | 2012 | ||
| Chile | 2013 | Huilliche[14] | |
| Chile | 2015 | Mapuche[15] |
The FIFI Wild Cup was organised by the German football club St. Pauli in the summer of 2006. It took place while the FIFA World Cup was being played in Germany, and aimed to raise awareness of stateless nations. Five nations took part, along with a team representing the St Pauli district of Hamburg. Northern Cyprus beat Zanzibar on penalties to win the trophy.
The ELF Cup, organised by the KTFF, took place in November 2006, in Northern Cyprus. Eight teams accepted invitations to take part, and the hosts emerged as winners.
The first VIVA World Cup, organised by the N.F.-Board,[16] took place in Occitania in November 2006. Six nations initially accepted invitations, but eventually, only 3 took part, the hosts, Monaco and Saami, the eventual winners. The second edition took place in Lapland in 2008 and Padania emerged as winners, as the third in 2009 where Padania won the tournament at home.
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | |||
| 2008 | |||
| 2009 | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 2012 |
Across a discreet number of minor tournaments, the only three main international football tournaments for women are the Women's VIVA World Cup, the Europeada and the Island Games.
A women's football tournament to the Island Games is played from 2001 edition:
| Host Nation | Year | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | ||
| 2003 | ||
| 2005 | ||
| 2007 | ||
| 2009 | ||
| 2011 | ||
| Bermuda | 2013 | |
| 2015 | ||
| 2017 | ||
| Gibraltar | 2019 | N/A † |
| 2021 | N/A ‡ | |
| 2023 | ||
| 2025 | ||
| 2027 | ||
| 2029 | ||
† Ynys Mon hosted an unofficial 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament as Gibraltar did not have enough pitches.[17]
‡ 2021 Island Games postponed until 2023 due to COVID-19 with all previously announced host moved back 2 years.[18]
A women's football tournament to the ConIFA World Football Cup is played from 2022.
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | |||
| 2024 |
A women's football tournament to the Europeada is played from the 2016 edition:
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2016 | ||
| Austria | 2022 | Carinthian Slovenes | |
| Denmark/ Germany | 2024 |
A women's football tournament to the VIVA World Cup is played from 2008 until 2010:
| Host Nation | Year | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | |||
| 2010 |
Here are some examples:
| Location | League | Narrative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The football association of the Falkland Islands is not a member of FIFA or UEFA or CONMEBOL. | |||
| The football association of Mayotte is simply associated with the French Football Federation. | |||
| The football association of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is simply associated with the French Football Federation. | |||
| The football association of Gozo is not a member of FIFA or UEFA. | |||
| played between club teams, is the premier football competition in Greenland. The Football Association of Greenland is not a member of FIFA or CONCACAF or UEFA. | |||
| The football association of Kiribati is an associate member of OFC. | |||
| The football association of Monaco is not a member of FIFA or UEFA. | |||
| The football association of Northern Cyprus is not a member of FIFA or UEFA. | |||
| The football association of Tuvalu is an associate member of OFC. | |||
| The football association of Vatican City is not a member of FIFA or UEFA. | |||
| The football association of Zanzibar is an associate member of CAF. |
Here are some examples:
Some non-FIFA teams play in other tournaments generally played by FIFA members, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Indian Ocean Games, CECAFA Cup, South Pacific Games, Coupes des Caraibes, Shell Caribbean Cup, CFU Championship and many more.
Moreover, many teams, before obtaining FIFA membership, played friendlies and international tournaments – for example, the Faroe Islands.
A big number of friendlies are being played between youth selections with different restrictions (U-21, U-18, or U-16 for example) but still there are not any international or continental tournaments being held. Only a little number of minor tournaments are played for youth selections: one of them, and probably one of the most important, is Muratti Vase who is played for U-21, U-18, U-15.
Despite the fact many non-FIFA associations have their own league, there are no international or continental club tournaments.
See main article: List of top-division football clubs in non-FIFA countries.