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UEFA: History, Structure and Major Competitions

Delve into the world of European football with UEFA, the governing body responsible for organizing and managing major competitions and supporting member associations.

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Abhishek Singh
Last updated: 25.11.2024
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2 min read
UEFA

The governing body of European football is the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It is one of the six continental governing organizations that FIFA, the world's football organization, has acknowledged. UEFA was established in 1954 and has 55 member associations as of the present. Its present headquarters are in Nyon, Switzerland. UEFA is in charge of overseeing and coordinating European football competitions as well as representing European football internationally.


In addition to promoting and growing football in Europe, UEFA is in charge of upholding the rules of the game within its purview. It ensures that football may flourish in nations of all sizes and developmental stages by offering financial and administrative assistance to its member associations. The inaugural president was Ebbe Schwartz, and the first general secretary was Henri Delaunay.


Aleksander Ceferin, a former leader of the Football Association of Slovenia, was chosen as the organization's seventh president during the 12th Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Athens in September 2016. He also automatically became vice president of FIFA, the international governing body.


Aleksander Ceferin
Aleksander Ceferin

UEFA has 55 member nations, which are:

  • Albania 

  • Andorra 

  • Armenia 

  • Austria 

  • Azerbaijan 

  • Belarus 

  • Belgium 

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina 

  • Bulgaria 

  • Croatia 

  • Cyprus 

  • Czech Republic 

  • Denmark

  • England 

  • Estonia 

  • Faroe Islands 

  • Finland 

  • France 

  • Georgia 

  • Germany 

  • Gibraltar

  • Greece 

  • Hungary

  • Iceland

  • Israel 

  • Italy

  • Kazakhstan 

  • Kosovo 

  • Latvia 

  • Liechtenstein 

  • Lithuania 

  • Luxembourg 

  • Malta 

  • Moldova 

  • Montenegro 

  • Netherlands 

  • North Macedonia

  • Northern Ireland 

  • Norway 

  • Poland 

  • Portugal 

  • Republic of Ireland 

  • Romania

  • Russia 

  • San Marino 

  • Scotland 

  • Serbia 

  • Slovakia

  • Slovenia 

  • Spain 

  • Sweden 

  • Switzerland 

  • Turkey 

  • Ukraine 

  • Wales

Football in Europe is developed and regulated in large part by UEFA, and its impact is felt well beyond the boundaries of Europe. Its initiatives have contributed to making European football one of the most well-liked and lucrative sports in the world, and it will continue to be essential in determining the game's destiny for many more years.


Here are the major competitions hosted by UEFA:

UEFA European Championship
UEFA European Championship

Competition Name

Format

UEFA Champions League

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Europa League

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Super Cup

Single Match

UEFA European Championship

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Nations League

Group Stages and Finals

UEFA Women’s Champions League

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Women’s Euro

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Youth League

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Futsal Champions League

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Women’s Futsal Euro

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Region’s Cup (Amateur)

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA European Under-19 Championship

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA European Under-17 Championship

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Women’s European Under-17 Championship

Group Stages and Knockouts

UEFA Football

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