Football proved its unparalleled unifying power yesterday as FIFA staff set a new Guinness World Record for the greatest number of nationalities to share the same field in an exhibition match. The historic game, organized in Morocco, featured an incredible 69 FIFA employees from 69 different countries.
The record-breaking match took place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, where FIFA is establishing a new regional hub ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
The symbolic match easily surpassed the previous record of 53 nationalities, set in 2019 by the UK-based group Equal Playing Field. The event was not a competitive fixture but a celebration of diversity and football’s global reach.
Participants: The players were FIFA employees, both men and women, representing various departments and continents.
The Rule: To meet Guinness World Records criteria, a system of continuous substitution was used, ensuring that all 69 individuals from 69 countries took the field and played for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Symbolism: Passports from across the globe were lined up on a table near the referee, serving as the official verification of the diverse participant pool.
Solomon Mudege, a Zimbabwe native and Head of FIFA’s Development Programs for Africa, remarked on the achievement: “At the heart of it is the fact that we recognized we could do something that celebrates our diversity. The game captured the spirit of soccer—that it belongs to everyone everywhere.”
The record-setting game comes as Morocco ramps up infrastructure and preparations to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, further cementing its role as a central hub for football development on the continent.
