Development of Clubs and Leagues

Football League First Division (1888-1992) 

This was the first primary English soccer league, which was comprised of 12 teams. Some of these initial teams are still around today, such as Aston Villa. After the current English first division, named the Premier League, came into existence in 1992, the Football League First Division was morphed into what we now know as the English second division, named the EFL Championship.

Argentine Primera Division (1891-current)

This league is the second oldest soccer league in the world. After soccer gained increased popularity in Argentina from England, this league was created. It still operates to this day. South America has since become a continent know for producing countless star players, and this league was the first to operate in South America, and thus holds historical importance.

Royal Spanish Football Federation (1913-1985)

This was Spain’s first main soccer league which allowed the teams to enter FIFA. This league formed after several other smaller regional leagues had existed, but the Royal Spanish Football Federation combined the whole of Spain. This league was followed by the current Spanish soccer league, La Liga.

UEFA (1954 – current)

UEFA is the primary governing body of soccer in Europe. It was founded in 1954 in Basel, Switzerland. Since then, the organization gained power and influence throughout all European soccer leagues. Today, it is famous for being the governing body of the largest club competitions in the world, namely the Champions League and Europa League.

FIFA (1904 – current)

With the increasing popularity of the sport in the early 1900s, FIFA was created to be the governing body across all leagues and competitions. Initially, it was primarily comprised of European nations, but has since become the governing body of all soccer competitions worldwide. Famously, FIFA is the organization which runs the largest sporting competition in the world, the World Cup.