About Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) was established in 1895 as the Gibraltar Civilian Football Association, making it one of Europe's oldest football bodies. A domestic league was formed in 1907 to complement the existing Merchant's Cup, and by 1901 a representative side was competing against British military teams stationed on the Rock.

The GFA's path to international recognition was lengthy and politically contested. After applying for FIFA membership in 1997, UEFA changed its statutes in 2001 to require applicants to represent UN-recognised independent states — a change widely seen as targeting Gibraltar. The Spanish Football Federation strongly opposed membership, citing historical and political claims over the territory. Two Court of Arbitration for Sport rulings, in 2003 and 2006, ultimately mandated Gibraltar's acceptance, and the GFA gained provisional UEFA status in October 2012.

On 24 May 2013, Gibraltar achieved full UEFA membership at the Congress vote — with only Belarus and Spain voting against. The occasion was marked with a commemorative 54-pence stamp recognising Gibraltar as UEFA's 54th member. FIFA membership followed on 13 May 2016, with an overwhelming 172–12 vote, immediately after Kosovo's admission, completing Gibraltar's integration into world football.