One game, two systems: national teams and clubs

National associations govern entry to organised football; clubs compete and employ players. Players, rules and the calendar connect the two.

National-team governance Club football and competitions Shared rules, players and calendar
National-team football and club football are connected but distinct systems A blue national-team path runs from FIFA through the six confederations and national associations to national teams and the FIFA World Cup. A green club-football path links club associations to clubs, domestic leagues, domestic competitions, continental competitions and the FIFA Club World Cup. IFAB and players connect both paths. SHARED BY BOTH SYSTEMS IFAB Sets the Laws of the Game for organised football NATIONAL-TEAM SYSTEM and others CLUB-FOOTBALL SYSTEM FC FC FC FC FIFA 211 national associations are its members Six confederations AFC · CAF · Concacaf CONMEBOL · OFC · UEFA National associations Govern organised football in a territory Enter and select national teams National teams Play international and continental football FIFA World Cup Global national-team tournament Qualification runs through the confederations Club associations Represent clubs; no regulatory authority Domestic leagues Their legal form varies by country Clubs Employ and register players Domestic club competitions Leagues organise; clubs contest them under national association rules Continental club competitions Champions League · Copa Libertadores · others Run by UEFA or the relevant confederation FIFA Club World Cup Global club tournament—not a national-team event 2025: 32 clubs from all six confederations Entry: continental results and ranking national rules, licensing and recognition qualification route selection / call-up contract / registration THE BRIDGE BETWEEN BOTH SYSTEMS Players Contracted or registered by clubs; selected by national teams They are the human link between the two systems Shared framework: Laws of the Game · eligibility · transfers · player-release calendar
How to read it: national associations are FIFA’s members; clubs do not directly vote in FIFA Congress. A club association can represent its member clubs, but does not govern domestic leagues or national teams. Domestic leagues and competitions operate under the national association’s framework, though exact legal arrangements vary by country. This diagram is part of Who Really Runs World Football?

The diagram separates national-team governance from club football and explains that players, rules and calendars connect the two.