FIFPRO marks 60 years as football's global player union

• FIFPRO was founded on 15 December 1965 when representatives from five domestic player unions met with the aim of establishing an international player association
• Sixty years later, FIFPRO represents over 70,000 players from over 70 player unions worldwide
• FIFPRO's six-decade journey is one defined by unity, integrity and transformation

Today, 15 December 2025, FIFPRO marks its 60th anniversary. From a modest gathering of five national player unions in 1965 to a global body shaping the standards of modern football, FIFPRO’s six-decade journey is one defined by unity, transparency, integrity and transformation.

"The first thing we must do is recognise those who, sixty years ago, had the vision, strength and conviction to create a global organisation," said FIFPRO President Sergio Marchi at last month’s General Assembly. "FIFPRO is not only a global union; for me, it is a beacon of justice for football in the years to come."

Protecting players as people

60 years ago today representatives from the Dutch, English, French, Italian and Scottish player unions met in Paris, France, with the aim of establishing an international player association to defend and advance the working rights of footballers.

Taking its name as the abbreviation deriving from Federation Internationale des Footballeurs Professionnels, FIFPRO was formed with player wellbeing at the centre of all decision-making.  

FIFPRO today still retains the same values that sparked its creation six decades ago, ensuring dignified, safe working conditions, delivering post-career support and championing a truly human voice for players worldwide.

"I cannot imagine football without a union because it would be a dehumanised sport. The union cares for human beings, protects athletes and helps the industry to expand," said Marchi.

A global network shaping the industry

From five player associations meeting in the French capital in 1965, FIFPRO has since grown to be the global representative organisation for professional footballers, made up of over 70 national player unions from five continents and representing over 70,000 players worldwide.

With 70+ player associations operating at domestic level and feeding into FIFPRO as the collective voice of footballers internationally, players everywhere are empowered to influence the industry and game.

From the Bosman Ruling guaranteeing players’ freedom of movement to over 150 players from 25 national teams successfully securing improved Women’s World Cup conditions and prize money, international collaboration continues to underpin FIFPRO’s mission in the men's and women's game.

The future belongs to the collective voice

While FIFPRO’s 60th anniversary offers a moment to reflect on six decades of collective progress, it also serves as an opportunity to look collectively to the future – as the true representative voice of players worldwide.

Unity, long-term strategy and a collective vision for the future underpinned November's FIFPRO General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal. Player unions from across the globe convened for three days of collaboration, discussion and planning in an event that marked FIFPRO’s 60th anniversary.

"As we look forward to the next 60 years, we need to learn from the lessons of the past," said FIFPRO Secretary General Alex Phillips. "The biggest one is that we need to be united, stay together, stay as strong as possible as a union does. The collective voice is much more powerful than the individual voice. That's the lesson that we can learn and apply in the next 60 years."

As FIFPRO plans for the future, the global player union will maintain the same core ethos it has carried for the last 60 years: putting footballers first.