FIFA has had its headquarters in the financial hub of Zurich for many decades. Although it was originally founded in Paris in 1904, the headquarters were moved to Switzerland back in 1932.
The current FIFA headquarters, designed by Swiss architect Tilla Theus, is located on the Zuriberg high above the city of Zurich. Construction was completed in 2006 and the building was inaugurated during the 2007 FIFA congress. The building was created at the request of then president Sepp Blatter and started construction two years earlier in 2004. Interestingly, the property was originally owned by Credit Suisse and is quite close to the former headquarters in Zurich.
| Address | Forrenweidstrasse, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland (Google Maps) |
| Public Transport | Tram 6 to Zurich Zoo |
| Website | fifa.com |
| Email (Media Enquiries) | [email protected] |
| Contact Form | Form |
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Visiting The FIFA Headquarters
It is not possible to enter the grounds of the FIFA Headquarters, you can only see what is visible from the outside driveway. This is very limited, making a visit to the headquarters not very worthwhile.
If you are interested in FIFA and football in general you are far better off visiting the FIFA Museum in the center of Zurich. It has a huge range of things on display as well as fun interactive areas where football lovers can relive their football memories and enjoy a day out surrounded by the world of football.
Details Of The FIFA Headquarters
The total cost of the building was a whopping 240 million CHF, with the whole property covering 44,000 m2. The FIFA headquarters building itself is a lot smaller, but still a substantial size at 37,400 m2.
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The new building is quite the site as it is large, modern and certainly makes a statement. It has five underground levels, yet only three above ground. So, it is mostly underground. Inside there is a fitness center, a meditation room, and themed parks, and outside there is a full-size beach and international football pitches. No cost has been spared in creating the FIFA headquarters, that is for sure!
The inside of the headquarters is divided by function with the head of the building containing a 210-seat auditorium, management offices, conference rooms, and a foyer. The rest of the building is more run-of-the-mill offices, and on the underground levels – a car park and storage.
One of the more unique rooms in the building is the FIFA Boardroom. It has no windows, which is a bit dark in my opinion, but the football pitch in the center, and board member chairs surrounding it, make for some fun meetings you would love to be a fly on the wall during!
On the outside, the building is meant to represent both football and transparency so has quite an unusual selection of materials and forms. It features aluminium strips that are tilted and slanted, with coverings of netting that allow movement like the game of football itself.
There is also a harmonious integration into the surroundings with a park on the southwest side of the property. Each football continent is represented by its own indigenous plants and trees in the park, further integrating the whole of the FIFA organisation into the construction.
Why is the FIFA headquarters in Switzerland?
FIFA headquarters are located in Zurich Switzerland for a number of reasons, It is in the center of Europe, it is a neutral country and it is easy to reach from all over Europe and the world.
