History of FIFA

The need for a single body to oversee the worldwide game became obvious at the beginning of the 20th century with the increasing popularity of international fixtures. The Football Association had chaired many discussions on setting up an international body, but was supposed as making no growth. It fell to seven other European countries to band together to form this association. FIFA was founded in Paris on May 21, 1904 — the French name and acronym persevere to this day, even outside French-speaking countries. The literal translation into English is ‘International Federation of Association Football’. Its opening president was Robert Guérin.
FIFA presided over its first international competition in 1906, but this met with little agreement or success. This, in grouping with economic factors, led to the swift replacement of Guérin with Daniel Burley Woolfall from England, by now a member association. The next competition staged, the football competition for the 1908 Olympics in London was more victorious, despite the presence of expert footballers, contrary to the founding principles of FIFA. Membership of FIFA extended beyond Europe with the application of South Africa in 1909, Argentina and Chile in 1912 and the United States in 1913.
FIFA however floundered during World War I with many players sent off to war and the possibility of travel for global fixtures severely limited. Post-war, following the death of Woolfall, the association fell into the hands of Dutchman Carl Hirschmann. It was saved from extinction, but at the cost of the exclusion of the Home Nations, who cited an unwillingness to play a part in international competitions with their recent World War enemies. The FIFA album is held by the National Football Museum in England.