The Portuguese Football Federation, known in Portuguese as the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol and commonly abbreviated to FPF, is the national governing body for football in Portugal. Its responsibilities include the country's national teams, football development, refereeing and a range of domestic competitions. Its work also encompasses futsal and beach soccer.
Origins and international membership
The organisation was founded on 31 March 1914 as the União Portuguesa de Futebol, bringing together the football associations of Lisbon, Porto and Portalegre. It adopted its present name in 1926. These origins reflect the federation's role in coordinating a sport that initially developed through local clubs and regional associations.
The FPF joined FIFA in 1923 and was among UEFA's founding members in 1954. Through these memberships, it represents Portuguese football within the international governing structure and enters national teams in European and world competitions.
Responsibilities and infrastructure
The federation oversees Portugal's men's and women's national teams across senior and youth levels. It organises the Taça de Portugal, the country's principal knockout cup competition, and the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Responsibility for professional league competitions is shared within Portuguese football's governance structure, with Liga Portugal organising the leading men's professional divisions.
A major part of the federation's infrastructure is the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, near Lisbon. Opened in 2016, the complex houses its headquarters and provides training and support facilities for national teams. It serves as a central base for administrative and sporting operations.
International achievements
Portugal's men's team won its first major senior international title at UEFA Euro 2016, defeating France in the final. It subsequently won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019. Earlier milestones included third place at the 1966 World Cup and a runners-up finish at Euro 2004, which Portugal hosted.
The federation's international record extends beyond men's eleven-a-side football. Portugal won the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2021 and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2015 and 2019. The women's national team made its FIFA Women's World Cup debut in 2023, marking another significant step in the country's football development.
