Stands for the International Football Association Board.

It is the body responsible for making and revising the rules of the game of association football (soccer). IFAB was founded in 1886 and is comprised of representatives from the four British football associations: The Football Association (FA) in England, the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW), and the Irish Football Association (IFA), which represents Northern Ireland. These four associations have historically played a significant role in shaping the rules of soccer.

IFAB meets annually to discuss and decide on prospective changes to the Laws of the Game, which are the rules that govern how soccer is played worldwide. Any changes to the Football Laws of the Game must be approved by at least three of the four British football associations represented on IFAB.

FIFA is also a member of IFAB but does not have a vote on rule changes. Instead, FIFA implements the rules decided upon by IFAB in its competitions and encourages their adoption worldwide.

IFAB’s primary role is to ensure that the rules of soccer are clear, fair, and reflective of the evolving nature of the sport while maintaining its core principles. It plays a crucial role in maintaining consistency and uniformity in the way soccer is played globally.