CONIFA: the hidden movement of football

In Qatar, the dust, literally and figuratively, is settling after three intense weeks of football that produced a series of historic moments; the drama, controversy and intrigue that characterized the run-up to the World Cup managed to permeate events on the pitch.

A total of 206 nations may have vied for a place in the 2022 edition of FIFA's premier competition, but only 32 made it to the Middle East last November. But the glitz, glamor and glory of the World Cup finals didn't just elude those 174 remaining member associations - many others, excluded from football's international governance structures, were also consigned to watching the most major sports festival on the planet to take place from home. Far from a frenzied media circus, who seem more resolute than ever in their efforts to focus exclusively on the "elite" forces of the game, are the representatives of CONIFA's nations, territories and diaspora: the Confederation of Independent Football Associations.

Art by Shivani Khot

Established in June 2013, CONIFA is truly a movement like no other, with its sole purpose is to provide a platform, a place in football, to communities that have been marginalized, repressed or lack credibility in mainstream discourses of geopolitical discussion Harnessing the talents of actors from de facto states o, from separatist territories and from minority and ethnic groups, the confederation presides over an extremely unique cultural mix of organizations. By providing a formal stage for this indisputably eclectic mix of 'nations', CONIFA is effectively a recalibrated and scaled down version of the FIFA model, although its values, guiding principles and charitable efforts are a far cry from practice both maligned by the officially recognized international governing body of football.

At a superficial level, the function of CONIFA is to organize meetings and competitions between its registered members. However, in reality, this organization serves to materially impact those it represents in several positive ways. Its mission, "to build bridges between peoples, nations, minorities and isolated regions around the world through friendship, culture and the joy of playing football", is a commitment that is not made at the light. It can be said that it empowers individuals, often feeling exhausted and undermined by the yes...