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Zurich
Nation / PlaceCH

Zurich

Switzerland's largest city and financial capital; home to FIFA's global headquarters since 1932.

Last refreshed: 6 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why has world football's governing body been run out of Zurich for nearly a century?

Common Questions
Why is FIFA headquartered in Zurich?
FIFA relocated its headquarters to Zurich from Paris in 1932. Its current building, the 'Home of FIFA', opened in 2007 in the Zurich-Hottingen district.
Is Zurich a 2026 World Cup host city?
No. Zurich is not one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being played across the United States, Mexico and Canada, but it remains FIFA's administrative headquarters.
What is Zurich known for?
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and its financial capital, home to the Swiss stock exchange, a dense banking sector, and FIFA's global headquarters since 1932.

Background

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, with roughly 450,000 residents in the city proper and around 1.5 million across the wider metropolitan area on Lake Zurich. It is the country's financial capital, home to the Swiss stock exchange and a dense cluster of banks and insurers along the Bahnhofstrasse, and consistently ranks among the world's most liveable cities.

Zurich has hosted FIFA's headquarters since 1932, when world football's governing body relocated there from Paris. The current headquarters, known as the 'Home of FIFA', opened in 2007 in the Zurich-Hottingen district, designed by architect Tilla Theus into the wooded slope of the Zurichberg. FIFA's presence makes Zurich the administrative centre for decisions that Ripple through every World Cup, from disciplinary rulings to refereeing appointments, even though the city is not itself a 2026 tournament host.