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UEFA

UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, is the governing body for football in Europe and the umbrella organisation for 55 national associations.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, is the governing body for football in Europe and the umbrella organisation for 55 national associations. It is recognised by FIFA as a continental confederation and is headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland. UEFA organises major European national-team and club competitions.

Role and structure

UEFA acts as the continental governing body for European football and coordinates football policy, competitions, and member-association relations. Its organs include the UEFA Congress, Executive Committee, President, and judicial bodies.

Competitions

UEFA runs some of the best-known football tournaments in Europe, including the European Championship and Nations League for national teams, plus the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for clubs.

Membership

UEFA has 55 member associations across Europe. It is recognised by FIFA as one of the world football confederations.

History

UEFA was founded in 1954 and later expanded its competition portfolio, including the Nations League in 2018 and the Conference League, first played in 2021–22.

Key facts

  • UEFA is the governing body for European football and the umbrella organisation for 55 national associations.
  • It is headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, and is described by UEFA as politically and religiously neutral.
  • UEFA organises major national-team competitions including the UEFA European Championship and UEFA Nations League.
  • UEFA organises major club competitions including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.
  • The UEFA European Championship began in 1958, with its first finals held in 1960.
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Canadian context

UEFA competitions are followed in Canada through broadcast coverage, player participation, and the large Canadian audience for European club football and the UEFA European Championship.

Frequently asked questions

What does UEFA stand for?
UEFA stands for the Union of European Football Associations.
What does UEFA do?
UEFA governs European football and organises major national-team and club competitions across Europe.
How many members does UEFA have?
UEFA has 55 national associations as members.
Where is UEFA headquartered?
UEFA is headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland.
What are UEFA’s main competitions?
Its main competitions include the European Championship, Nations League, Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

References

  1. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/
    Supports: Official UEFA home page identifying UEFA as the official website for European football.
  2. UEFA — https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0243-0f8e5df9d267-85e35013992a-1000--what-uefa-does/
    Supports: UEFA's role as governing body, umbrella organisation for 55 associations, headquarters in Nyon, and institutional structure.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA
    Supports: General overview of UEFA competitions, founding context, and tournament history.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_European_Championship
    Supports: History and status of the UEFA European Championship.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_League
    Supports: Overview of the UEFA Europa League as a UEFA club competition.