FIFA gets its shape

The first FIFA Congress held two days later on 23 May 1904 elected Robert Guérin (FRA) as President. Victor E. Schneider (SUI) and Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschmann (NED) were made Vice-Presidents. Louis Muhlinghaus (BEL) was appointed Secretary and Treasurer, with the assistance of Ludvig Sylow (DEN). These pioneers were faced with an immense task because FIFA only existed on paper so to speak. One had to give it shape, create Associations as true national representations and get hold of new members. In the first place, the English had to be convinced that their membership to this newly created organization was indispensable.

FIFA only consisted of European Associations up until 1909. The first members from overseas joined in the following order: South Africa in 1909/1910, Argentina and Chile in 1912, USA in 1913. This was the start of FIFA's international activities. The long path towards full expansion had been sketched out.