History of UEFA in Timeline

UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, is the governing body for football, futsal, and beach soccer in Europe and several transcontinental/West Asian countries. Comprising 55 national member associations, it organizes major club competitions like the Champions League and Europa League, as well as the UEFA European Championship for national teams. In 2022, UEFA, in conjunction with FIFA, suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from its competitions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

June 1954: UEFA Officially Inaugurated

On June 15, 1954, UEFA was officially inaugurated in Basel, Switzerland, following consultations between the Italian, French, and Belgian associations. 25 members were present at the founding meeting, with six other associations recognized as founding members, bringing the total to 31.

1955: Beginning of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

In 1955, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup began. This competition was a predecessor to the UEFA Europa League, which was launched in 1971.

1955: Start of the European Champion Clubs' Cup

In 1955, the UEFA Champions League started as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, initially gathering the top team of each country. The competition has since been expanded to include the top 1–4 teams of each country's league, based on their ranking.

1958: UEFA European Championship started

In 1958, the UEFA European Championship, also known as the Euro, started. It was initially known as the European Nations Cup until 1964.

1960: UEFA headquarters moved to Bern

In 1960, UEFA's main headquarters moved from Paris to Bern.

1960: Start of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

In 1960, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup started. It was absorbed into the UEFA Cup (now UEFA Europa League) in 1999.

1960: First UEFA European Championship finals

The first UEFA European Championship finals took place in 1960. The competition started in 1958 and was known as the European Nations Cup until 1964.

1964: UEFA European Championship name change

In 1964, the European Nations Cup was renamed to the UEFA European Championship, also known as the Euro. The competition started in 1958.

1971: Launch of the UEFA Europa League

In 1971, UEFA launched the UEFA Europa League as a successor to both the former UEFA Cup and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup also began in 1955.

1973: Introduction of the UEFA Super Cup

In 1973, the UEFA Super Cup came into being, pitting the winners of the Champions League against the winners of the Europa League (previously the winners of the Cup Winners' Cup).

1974: Israel admitted to UEFA

In 1974, Israel was admitted to the European football association, UEFA, because it had been banned from the AFC group.

1984: Futsal European Clubs Championship

The Futsal European Clubs Championship had a long tradition in the European futsal community dating back to 1984, but was never recognized as official by UEFA.

July 1988: Juventus Receives UEFA Plaque

On July 12, 1988, Juventus of Italy received The UEFA Plaque by the Union of European Football Associations in commemoration of achieving the feat of being the only team in Europe to win all UEFA's official championships and cups until 2022.

1995: UEFA Relaunched the Intertoto Cup

In 1995, UEFA relaunched and recognized the Intertoto Cup, a summer competition previously operated by several Central European football associations, as an official UEFA club competition.

1995: UEFA headquarters moved to Nyon

In 1995, UEFA's headquarters moved to Nyon, Switzerland.

1999: Launch of the UEFA Regions' Cup

In 1999, UEFA launched the UEFA Regions' Cup, a competition for semi-professional teams representing their local region, aimed at boosting youth football.

1999: Opening of UEFA's current headquarters

In 1999, UEFA's current headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, were opened.

1999: Absorption of UEFA Cup Winners' Cup into UEFA Cup

In 1999, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, which started in 1960, was absorbed into the UEFA Cup (now UEFA Europa League).

2001: Start of the UEFA Futsal Cup

In 2001, the UEFA Futsal Cup started, replacing the former Futsal European Clubs Championship.

2001: First UEFA Women's Champions League held

In 2001, the first UEFA Women's Champions League, then known as the UEFA Women's Cup until 2009, was held.

2008: Last Intertoto Cup took place

In 2008, the last Intertoto Cup took place. This competition was relaunched and recognised as official UEFA club competition by UEFA in 1995.

2009: UEFA Women's Cup renamed to UEFA Women's Champions League

In 2009, the UEFA Women's Cup was renamed to the UEFA Women's Champions League. The competition was first held in 2001.

2015: Michel Platini involved in 2015 FIFA corruption case

Following the 2015 FIFA corruption case, the then-president of UEFA, Michel Platini, was involved. Swiss prosecutors accused FIFA president Sepp Blatter of making a "disloyal payment" of $2m (£1.6m) to Mr Platini, leading to a ban from football-related activity.

September 2016: Aleksander Čeferin elected as UEFA President

In September 2016, Aleksander Čeferin, former Football Association of Slovenia president, was elected as UEFA's seventh president at the 12th Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Athens, and automatically became a vice-president of FIFA.

2016: "UEFA mafia" term used during UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

The term "UEFA mafia" was used outside of stadiums during a protest in Kosovo outside an EU building following the Serbia v Albania (UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying) match.

December 2018: UEFA Announces Creation of Europa Conference League

In December 2018, UEFA announced the creation of a third club competition, later named the UEFA Europa Conference League, featuring 32 teams in 8 groups of 4.

2018: Introduction of the UEFA Nations League

In 2018, the UEFA Nations League was introduced. This tournament largely replaced international friendly matches previously played on the FIFA International Match Calendar.

2019: UEFA's decision to host Europa League Cup final in Baku, Azerbaijan

In 2019 UEFA's decision to host Europa League Cup final in Baku, Azerbaijan left Arsenal with a decision to withdraw their Armenian player Henrikh Mkhitaryan out of the competition due to safety concerns.

2019: F.C. Copenhagen supporters display banners about "UEFA MAFIA"

In 2019, F.C. Copenhagen supporters displayed banners around the city, with slogans such as "UEFA MAFIA – THE PANDEMIC OF FOOTBALL", when UEFA ordered their 2019–20 Europa League round of 16 return leg be played behind closed doors.

2021: Discussions to create a Europa League-style second tier women's club competition

Since 2021, there had been discussions to create a Europa League-style second tier women's club competition, which came into fruition in December 2023.

2021: First edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League played

The first edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League was played in 2021-2022.

February 2022: UEFA partnered with Chiliz

In February 2022, UEFA's decision to partner with blockchain company Chiliz was criticized and described as 'incomprehensible' by fan groups across Europe.

February 2022: UEFA suspends participation of Russia

In February 2022, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and following a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), UEFA suspended the participation of Russia.

2022: Suspension of Russian teams from FIFA and UEFA competitions

In 2022, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from any FIFA and UEFA competitions.

2022: First edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League played

The first edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League was played in 2021–2022.

2022: Juventus remained only team to win all UEFA championships until 2022

Until the first staging of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022, Juventus of Italy remained the only team in Europe to win all UEFA's official championships and cups.

September 2023: UEFA lifts ban for Russia U-17 team

On September 26, 2023, UEFA lifted the ban for the Russia U-17 team, enabling them to complete in the 2024 Euro U-17. The lifting of the ban also applied to all teams, men and women, of underage players, leading to boycott threats from the FA of Ukraine, England, and Sweden.

December 2023: Fruition of Europa League-style second tier women's club competition

In December 2023, after discussions since 2021, the attempt to create a Europa League-style second tier women's club competition came to fruition, with the first edition to be played in 2025–26.

December 2024: Announcement of "UEFA Women's Europa Cup"

In December 2024, the name of the new women's club competition, "UEFA Women's Europa Cup", was announced. The first edition of the competition is set to be played in 2025–26.