Studying Peace in the Documents and Procedures of FIFA

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association is a non-governmental international organization that plays an active role in the international society, particularly in the realization of its goals including peacebuilding. This study aimed to examine the role of "FIFA" in building and establishing peace and the way a sports organization could influence world peacebuilding. A further question was the basis of FIFA’s participation in world peace. The answer to this question lies in 1980s when FIFA reconsidered its macro-level goals and was converted into a multi-aspect organization. Accordingly, the participation of FIFA began in 1980s in collaboration with other international organizations active in peacebuilding such as the United Nations and its sub-organizations such as United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace and UNICEF as well as non-governmental organizations such as Football for Peace. Several articles in FIFA’s Statue specify its active presence in different fields including human rights and elimination of racial and gender discriminations. This, in its turn, provides a space for peacebuilding in difficult conditions. The procedures of FIFA also indicate its high potential and influential role in peacebuilding and establishing peace in crisis-ridden areas in the Balkans, Palestine, Afghanistan, Africa, and other places in the world through joint programs such as “Unity for Peace, United for Peace”, “Football Friends”, “Football for Hope” and “Football for Peace”. Today, FIFA’s outlook is focused more than ever on peace and activities for peacebuilding. This is more tangible considering the developments in relations with other organizations active in peacebuilding and the significance of FIFA’s social responsibility.