The World Unity Football Alliance (WUFA) is an international governing body for association football teams that are not affiliated with FIFA, similar to but smaller than the older Confederation of Independent Football Associations. WUFA was founded in 2020 to oversee international competition among the non-FIFA affiliated associations in the world, the alliance of football associations does not have a centralised management structure.[1][2]
 | |
| Formation | 7 July 2020 |
|---|---|
| Type | Federation of associations |
Membership | 19 Members |
Official languages | English, Spanish |
| Website | worldunityfootballalliance.org |
History edit
WUFA initially announced 9 founding members, and were joined by the Yorkshire International Football Association on 8 July.[3] Of the 18 members of WUFA, 11 are also members of CONIFA, Darfur left CONIFA prior to establishing WUFA, and Surrey were not a member of any federation prior to joining WUFA.[4][5] On 13 July 2020, WUFA announced a partnership with COSANFF – Consejo Sudamericano de Nuevas Federaciones de Fútbol, establishing an alliance.[6] 3 members, the Armenian Argentine Community, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Mapuche Nation later joined as members of the World Unity Football Alliance as well as the COSANFF.
On 12 September 2020, WUFA announced their first tournament, the World Series, scheduled for 2021.[7] On 6 April 2021, International Surrey Football announced it would host the first stage of the WUFA World Series, all 4 games were played behind closed doors due in part to local COVID restrictions imposed in the United Kingdom at the time. [8] On 7 July 2021, WUFA announced the Kashmir Football Association as its newest member. Kashmir was not previously a member of any non-FIFA organisation prior to joining WUFA.[9][10] On 29 June 2021, WUFA announced plans to organise the WUFA Women's World Unity Cup, its first major international tournament.[11] On 15 March 2022, the World Unity Football Alliance announced the election of its first General Secretary, President and founder of members International Surrey Football.[12]
Members edit
| Team | M | W |
|---|---|---|
 Parishes of Jersey
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 Surrey[13]
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 Yorkshire
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| Team | M | W |
|---|---|---|
 All Black FC Hong Kong
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 Karen[14]
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 Kashmir
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 Tamil Eelam
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 West Papua
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| Team | M | W |
|---|---|---|
 Barawa
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 Chagos Islands
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 Darfur
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 Matabeleland
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 Western Sahara
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| Team | M | W |
|---|---|---|
 California[15]
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 Kuskatan
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| Team | M | W |
|---|---|---|
 Armenian Argentine Community
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 Mapuches
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 Rapa Nui
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 São Paulo
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Member Federation edit
Tournaments edit
Men's World Unity Cup edit
Women's World Unity Cup edit
World Series edit
- 2021 WUFA World Series
Organisation edit
General Secretary edit
| No. | Name | Country of origin | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danny Clarke |  United Kingdom |
18 February 2022 | 30 June 2023 |
See also edit
- Non-FIFA international football
- New Football Federations-Board
- CONIFA – Several WUFA members also hold membership of the CONIFA.
References edit
- ^ "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE". World Unity Cup 2016. 8 July 2020.
- ^ Price, Steve. "Soccer Or Activism? Darfur United And Teams Outside FIFA Form World Unity Football Alliance". Forbes.
- ^ "Breaking news for the Yorkshire team! – YIFA for YORKSHIRE". Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ @DarfurUnited (15 June 2020). "To better serve its mission and values, Darfur United has decided to part ways with CONIFA effective immediately" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Surrey joins World Unity Football Alliance – International Surrey Football".
- ^ "The South American Council of New Federations joins WUFA". World Unity Football Alliance. 13 July 2020.
- ^ "2021 WUFA World Series". World Unity Football Alliance. 12 September 2020.
- ^ "WUFA World Series Coming to Surrey – International Surrey Football".
- ^ "Kashmir Football Association Joins WUFA". World Unity Football Alliance. 7 July 2021.
- ^ "World stage for Kashmir as Bradford to host international teams". The Telegraph and Angus. 22 July 2021.
- ^ "WUFA Announces First Major Tournament: WUFA Women's World Unity Cup". World Unity Football Alliance. 29 June 2021.
- ^ "World Unity Football Alliance Vote for Interim General Secretary". World Unity Football Alliance. 15 March 2022.
- ^ "About us". International Surrey Football.
- ^ "Organisation". Karen Football Association.
- ^ "About". California Football Federation.
