Northern Ireland

• 

• Irish Football Association

• Founded: 1880

• Federation: UEFA

• The IFA was founded in 1880 in Belfast and was the governing body of all Ireland. In 1921 The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was founded in Dublin and recognised as the governing body of the Irish Free State by FIFA in 1923. Both associations, initially, claimed to represent the entire island and picked players from both Northern and Republican Ireland accordingly. In 1950 FIFA directed both federations to pick players from within their own boundaries and in 1953 ruled that the FAI and the IFA would be known, football-wise, as Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, respectively. Ireland began its international history in 1882 against England and took part in the British Home Championship from 1884 to 1984. Northern Ireland were the last champions of the trophy. Their first of three World Cup appearances was the 1958 edition in Sweden. They, like all the home countries, are permanent members of IFAB, the body which determines the laws throughout the world.