By 
In a vibrant celebration of global unity, FIFA staff have set a new Guinness World Record for the most nationalities represented in a single football match.
The historic game, played on Wednesday in Salé, Morocco, brought together 69 FIFA employees from 69 different countries, each playing for at least ten minutes.
The friendly match, organized to showcase football’s universal spirit, saw a constant flow of substitutions as men and women rotated effortlessly on and off the pitch.
At the referee’s table, a lineup of passports from across the world served as a powerful symbol that the beautiful game knows no borders.
“At the heart of it, we wanted to do something that celebrates our diversity,” said Solomon Mudege, a Zimbabwean who heads FIFA’s Development Programs for Africa.
“Football is about everyone, everywhere.”
The event broke the previous record set in 2019 by the UK-based group Equal Playing Field.
Beyond the record, the match also reflected FIFA’s growing presence in Africa.
It was staged near Rabat, where the organization is establishing a new regional hub ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The North African nation has already begun upgrading stadiums, improving transport, and building new facilities in preparation.
“Football brings the whole world together,” said Fatou Camara, a development manager from Mali with FIFA’s Africa office.
“This match shows that no matter where we come from, we share the same passion.”
From Salé to São Paulo, Zurich to Zanzibar, the record stands as a reminder that football truly belongs to everyone.
