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FIFA is the international governing body of association football, charged with overseeing football globally and with running international representative matches. However, some international football takes place outside of its ratification. 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 nations whose representative teams are not affiliated to FIFA. Historically, a number of competitions occurred outside of FIFA's auspices.

An umbrella organisation, the NF Board, organises matches and tournaments between its members, with the aim of working with FIFA as a temporary organisation for those nations before they acquire membership in FIFA. A new football organisation has been born in 2009, the International Football Union, which has as its main concern the criteria of potential football associations: this too states that it is intended to be a temporary organisation for nations.

[edit] "National" teams

Broadly-speaking, there are six categories of Non-FIFA national team:

[edit] Regional associations

The first, and most common, are 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, whose members are also members of the FA. These regional associations often enter representative teams into international non-FIFA matches.

[edit] Autonomous (or autonomy-seeking) regions

A second category encompasses regions of larger nations which have a history of autonomy. They may have already achieved a degree of autonomy (Catalonia or Basque Country, for example), or be seeking it (like Rijeka). Some established members of UEFA once fell into this category, such as the Faroe Islands and Moldova. Current non-FIFA heavyweights Northern Cyprus are the best example of this category of non-FIFA football team. Also included are the representative sides of the Spanish autonomous regions, which currently play just one game a year, traditionally at Christmas.

[edit] Stateless people

The third group of teams features representative sides drawn from ethnic groups that have yet to gain significant control over a home state, or drawn from an ethnic diaspora. The Sami people of Lapland live in a distinct area of northern Scandinavia, yet fall under the control of four states. Nevertheless, they have organised a football association, and a representative team. Similarly, the Roma people have been strewn across Europe for centuries, with little hope of ever gaining a homeland, yet they have a fledgling footballing organisation to represent them in international competition. While representative teams that fall under this category perhaps have the least hope of ever gaining full FIFA recognition, they can take comfort from the experience of the Palestinians who, despite having no recognised state and having to play all their games outside even Israel, have been welcomed into FIFA and the AFC.

[edit] States

Eight sovereign states (Vatican City, Monaco, Tuvalu, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru, and Kiribati) are not affiliated to FIFA.

[edit] Minorities

Another group of teams is composed by ethnic minorities in a state. For example: Armenians in Argentina, Albanians in Macedonia, etc.

[edit] Micronations

The final group are composed by Micronations, who are entities that resemble independent nations or states but which are unrecognized by world governments or major international organisations, moreover sometimes also referred to as model countries and new country projects. These nations usually exist only on paper, on the Internet, or in the minds of their creators. Micronations differ from secession and self-determination movements in that they are largely viewed as being eccentric and ephemeral in nature, and are often created and maintained by a single person or family group. An example is Sealand.

[edit] Organizations

NF-Board New Federations Board: a football association established in 2003. It is made up of teams that represent nations that are not recognized as sovereign states and which are therefore not eligible to become members of FIFA, football's world governing body. The NF-Board organises the VIVA World Cup and the UNPO Cup. CSANF is its first continental confederation, for South America.
IFU International Football Union: a football association established on 12 August 2009. It wants to have represented nations, dependencies, unrecognized states and regions not affiliated to FIFA. The IFU seeks to work with FIFA to be a temporary organisation for some football associations before they acquire membership in FIFA.
IGA Island Games Association: formed in 1985, this is an organization with the sole purpose to organise the Island Games, a friendly biennial athletic competition (including football) between teams from several islands and other small territories.

[edit] Non-FIFA competitions

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.

[edit] Men Tournaments

[edit] The FIFI Wild Cup

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.

Host nation, year: winners
Germany, 2006: Northern Cyprus

[edit] The UNPO Cup

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, and featured four teams. The South Moluccas won the cup, beating Chechnya in the final.

Host nation, year: winners
Netherlands, 2005: South Moluccas

[edit] The VIVA World Cup

The first VIVA World Cup, organised by the NF-Board, 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
Occitania, 2006: Sápmi
Sápmi, 2008: Padania
Padania, 2009: Padania
Gozo, 2010:

[edit] The ELF Cup

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.

Host nation, year: winners
Northern Cyprus, 2006: Northern Cyprus

[edit] Football at the Island Games

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. Many of the competing nations are affiliated to larger national FAs - the Jersey Football Association, for example, is governed by the FA.

Host nation, year: winners
Faroe Islands, 1989: Faroe Islands
Åland, 1991: Faroe Islands
Isle of Wight, 1993: Jersey
Gibraltar, 1995: Isle of Wight
Jersey, 1997: Jersey
Gotland, 1999: Ynys Môn
Isle of Man, 2001: Guernsey
Guernsey, 2003: Guernsey
Shetland, 2005: Shetland
Rhodes, 2007: Gibraltar
Åland, 2009: Jersey
Isle of Wight, 2011:

[edit] The Europeada

The Europeada is a football tournament for Indigenous peoples 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.

Host nation, year: winners
Switzerland, 2008: South Tyrol
[tba], 2010:

[edit] Other tournaments

The Coupe de l'Outre-Mer is organised by the FFF, took place in October 2008, in Paris, France. Teams representing the eleven French Overseas Territories are allowed to participate. The first edition was won by Reunion.
KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup was held in 2005 under the auspices of the NF-Board, this tournament celebrated 50 years of the football association of Northern Cyprus, the KTFF, and featured representative sides from the host nation, the Sápmi, and Kosovo. Northern Cyprus triumphed in a round-robin tournament.
Inter Island Cup played between Cocos Islands and Christmas Island in 1994, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2005.
Micronesia Games played by Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau, Yap and Pohnpei in 1998.
Adam Shield Cup played by Faroe Islands and Shetland Islands.
Micronesian Cup played between Micronesia and Northern Marianas Islands in 1999.
Pasefika Cup played by teams composed by ethnic groups in the Pacific Ocean, is played since 2008.
Marianas Cup played between Guam and Northern Marianas Islands from 2007.
Virgin Islands Championship played between islands of Virgin archipelago from 1997 to 2003.
Inter Islands Competition played between Saba and Saint Eustatius in 2004 and 2006.
Windward Islands Tournament played between St.Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and St.Vincent in 2001.
Leeward Islands Tournament played between Caribbean islands from 1949 to 2002.
Muratti Vase played between Guernsey, Alderney and Jersey since 1905 to 2007.
GFA Tournament played in Gibraltar, with the host, Isle of Man and Isle of Wight in 2004.
Tournoi des Iles played in Bretagne, with the host, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in 2003.
Greenland Cups played between Greenland, Faroe Islands and Iceland from 1980 to 1984.
North Atlantic Cup played between Orkney, Faroe Islands and Shetland from 1968 to 1973.
Milne Cup annual tournament between Orkney and Shetland, played since 1919.
Adam Shield played between Faroe Islands and Shetland, from 1935 to 1967.
Martinez Shield played between Trinidad Island, Barbados and Demerara (British Guyana), from 1923 to 1933.
Tournoi Frantz Fanon between Martinique, Guadeloupe and Haiti, played in 2002.
Tournoi du Cinquantenaire played between French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe, in 2003.
The Four Nations played by England, Scotland and Wales with "B" teams and Gibraltar in 2008.
Tournoi de Guadeloupe played between Guadeloupe and St.Lucia in 2006.
Jeux Inter-Iles played between Wallis Island and Futuna Island in 2001.
Chinese Championship played between Chinese regions, from 1973 to 1989.
Chinese National Games played between Chinese regions, from 1959 to 1965.
Santosh Trophy played between Indian States, since 1973.
DONER Trophy played between Indian States, in 2003 and 2004.
South-West Counties Championship played between Cornwall, Guernsey and Jersey, and several other English counties from 1998 to 2007.
Alex Oni Cup played between Igbo Nation, Edo Nation and Yoruba Nation, from 1950 to 1957.
Brazilian State Championship played by Brazilian states from 1922 to 1987.
International Small Nations Tournament played by Jersey, Gibraltar and Madeira (U-20 team) in Jersey in 2008.

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 get FIFA membership played friendlies and international tournaments, for example Faroe Islands.

[edit] Women Tournaments

Across a discreet number of minor tournaments the only two main international football tournaments for women are the Women's VIVA World Cup and the Island Games. Still does not exists any continental tournament.

[edit] Island Games

A women's football tournament to the Island Games is played from 2001 edition:

Host nation, year: winners
Isle of Man, 2001: Faroe Islands
Guernsey, 2003: Faroe Islands
Shetland, 2005: Faroe Islands
Rhodes, 2007: Åland Islands
Åland, 2009: Åland Islands

[edit] VIVA World Cup

A women's football tournament to the VIVA World Cup is played from 2008 edition:

Host nation, year: winners
Sápmi, 2008: Sápmi

[edit] Youth Tournaments

A big number of friendlies are played between youth selections with different restrictions (U-21, U-18, or U-16 for example) but still does not exists any international or continental tournaments. 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.

[edit] Club Tournaments

Despite the fact many non-FIFA associations have got their own league, there are no international or continental club tournaments.

Main article: List of top-division football clubs in non-FIFA countries

Main article: List of association football competitions#Non FIFA Competitions

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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