Football in Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Football is one of the most popular sports in Switzerland. The Swiss Football Association
was formed in 1895 and was a founder member of the sport's international governing body FIFA
in 1904. The Swiss cities of Zurich
and Nyon
are home to FIFA and the European governing body UEFA
respectively. The country played host to the 1954 World Cup
and 2008 European Championship.
Switzerland has an extensive league system
, with the Swiss Super League
as the country's premier mens competition. There are also several cup competitions, most notably the national Swiss Cup.
With a very young squad, the Swiss national team
participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany
and were narrowly beaten by Ukraine
in penalties. Switzerland
co-hosted the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament together with Austria
. They did not make further than the preliminary stage, although they did record one win against Portugal
, a game in which Portugal played their B squad as they already secured the division. The best international result was probably in 1954 when Switzerland as the host reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup
. They also reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1934
as well as 1938
.
Swiss Football Association
The Swiss Football Association is the governing body of football in Switzerland. It organizes the football league, the Swiss Football League, and the Switzerland national football team. It is based in Bern....
was formed in 1895 and was a founder member of the sport's international governing body FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1904. The Swiss cities of Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Nyon
Nyon
Nyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
are home to FIFA and the European governing body UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
respectively. The country played host to the 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
and 2008 European Championship.
Switzerland has an extensive league system
Swiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
, with the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
as the country's premier mens competition. There are also several cup competitions, most notably the national Swiss Cup.
With a very young squad, the Swiss national team
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and were narrowly beaten by Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...
in penalties. Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
co-hosted the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament together with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. They did not make further than the preliminary stage, although they did record one win against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, a game in which Portugal played their B squad as they already secured the division. The best international result was probably in 1954 when Switzerland as the host reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
. They also reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1934
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
as well as 1938
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
.
Swiss football competitions
- Swiss Football AssociationSwiss Football AssociationThe Swiss Football Association is the governing body of football in Switzerland. It organizes the football league, the Swiss Football League, and the Switzerland national football team. It is based in Bern....
- Swiss national football teamSwitzerland national football teamThe Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
- Switzerland under 21Switzerland national under-21 football teamThe Switzerland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Switzerland and is controlled by the Swiss Football Association...
- Switzerland women's national football teamSwitzerland women's national football teamThe Switzerland women's national football team represents Switzerland in international women's football.The team played its first match in 1972...
- Swiss Super LeagueSwiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
- Swiss Challenge League
- Swiss 1. Liga (football)Swiss 1. Liga (football)1. Liga is the third tier of the Swiss Football League. The division is split into three groups of 16 teams, by geographical region.-Regional Format:...
- 2. Liga Interregional2. Liga Interregional2. Liga Interregional is the fourth tier of the Swiss Football League. The division is split into 6 groups of 14 teams, by geographical region.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Group 3 :- Group 4 :- Group 5 :- Group 6 :- External links :*...
- 2. Liga2. Liga2. Liga is the fifth tier of the Swiss Football League. The division is split into 17 groups of 12, 13 or 14 teams by geographical region. Teams usually play within their own canton.- Regional Associations:* Aargauischer Fussballverband...
- Swiss Cup
- UhrencupUhrencupThe Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Switzerland.The tournament usually features four teams , each playing two matches, and is held in July at Stadion Brühl in Grenchen. As a friendly tournament, the format tends to be fluid...
- Coppa delle AlpiCoppa delle AlpiCoppa delle Alpi , was a football tournament, first organized by the Italian national league to start 1960 and then aided by the Swiss League in 1962 for the reason that the majority of the Alps are in Switzerland...
- Nationalliga ANationalliga A (women's football)The Women's Nationalliga A is the highest-level league competition for women's football clubs in Switzerland. It was established in 1970.League winners qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League...
, the Top Level Women's League
See also
- List of football clubs in Switzerland
- List of football stadiums in Switzerland
- 1954 FIFA World Cup1954 FIFA World CupThe 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
(hosted by Switzerland) - 2008 UEFA European Football Championship (co-hosted by Switzerland)