Zurich — FIFA has set a new Guinness World Record for the most nationalities to participate in a single football exhibition match, with 69 nationalities represented in a game played on Wednesday—an unprecedented celebration of the sport’s global reach.
The new mark eclipses the previous record of 53 nationalities, set in 2019 in Lyon, France, by the Equal Playing Field initiative. Guinness World Records confirmed the attempt met all requirements: each player took the field and touched the ball for at least 10 minutes, while qualified referees, independent witnesses, and comprehensive video evidence ensured rule compliance. Identity checks were conducted for every participant before they entered the pitch.
FIFA hailed the achievement as a vivid demonstration of football’s power to unite people across nationality, language, and culture. Organizers described the match as both competitive and symbolic, designed to spotlight diversity, teamwork, and friendship as core values of the game.
“This milestone underlines that football truly belongs to everyone,” FIFA said in a statement, adding that the event was conceived to showcase inclusivity as much as sporting spectacle.
With Guinness’ certification, the record becomes an official entry in FIFA’s growing catalog of landmark moments, reinforcing football’s status as the world’s game—and offering a timely reminder of the sport’s ability to bring together communities from every corner of the globe.
