Introducing the non-FIFA football's new era: ConIFA

Have you ever imagined non-recognised countries, such as Northern Cyprus, Padania, Man Island etc. participating in international football tournaments? Well, it's high time they actually do! 2 years ago an association was established in Luleå, Sweden, the so called "ConIFA" aka Confederation of Independent Football Associations.

This association consists of 26 members;
tip: (date of establishment, country, affiliated continent)

• Abkhazia (2007, Georgia, Europe)
• Arameans Suryoye (Syriac Aramaic people) (2008, Sweden, Asia)
• Cascadia (USA & Canada, The Americas -no official games-)
• Chagos Islands (2003, British Indian Ocean Territory -BIOT-, Africa)
• Countea de Nissa (County of Nice) (2013, France, Europe)
• Darfur (United) (Chad & Sudan, Africa)
• Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) (2013, Isle of Man, Europe)
• Felvidék (Upper Hungary) (Slovakia, Europe)
• Franken (Franconia) (2014, Germany, Europe)
• Helgoland (Heligoland) (1893, Germany, Europe -managed by VfL Fosite Helgoland 1893-)
• Kurdistan (2006, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq, Asia)
• Munegu (Monaco) (2000, Monaco, Europe)
• Lernayin Garabaghi/Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) (2012, Nagorno-Karabakh, Europe)
• Northern Cyprus/TRNC (1955, Cyprus, Europe)
• Occitania (2004, France, Europe)
• Padania (2013, Italy, Europe)
• Panjab (2014, India, Asia)
• Québéc (1911, excluded from Canada in 2013, Canada, The Americas)
• Raetia (2011, Switzerland, Europe)
• Romani people (Germany, Europe)
• Sápmi (2003, re-established 2014, Sweden, Europe)
• Székely land (2014, Romania, Europe)
• South Ossetia (1997, Georgia, Europe)
• Tamil Eelam (2012, Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka, Asia)
• Western Armenia (2015, Turkey, Europe)
• Zanzibar (1926, Tanzania, Africa)

ConIFA started almost immediately designing the non-FIFA competitions!
Last year, Swedish city Östersund held the 2014 ConIFA World Cup, won by the County of Nice. The next is to be held in 2016, but without invitations; there will be qualification for the first time! The host is still not announced by ConIFA.

There will be more competitions, like the 2015 ConIFA European Football Cup, held by Székely Land in Debrecen, Hungary. The venues will be Nagyerdei Stadion and Gyulai István Atlétikai Stadion. There will be 8 participants, divided in two groups;

GROUP A

• Padania (Italy)
• Abkhazia (Georgia)
• Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man, 2014 World Cup finalists)
• Romani people (Germany)

GROUP B

• County of Nice (France, 2014 World Cup champions)
• Northern Cyprus (Cyprus)
• South Ossetia (Georgia)
• Székely Land (Romania, hosts)

The European competition is to be held every two years.