♣ Timeline of association football

This page indexes the individual year in association football pages. Each year is annotated with one or more significant events as a reference point.

1990s

♣ 1990 in football

For the first time three clubs from the same country, Italy's Juventus, Sampdoria and A.C. Milan wins all four UEFA club competitions in the same season, a feat no more possible since the Cup Winner's Cup no longer exists. West Germany wins the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Rome, Italy, defeating defending champion Argentina 1–0 in the final. In their first appearance in the tournament, Republic of Ireland reaches the quarter-finals without winning a single game, the furthest a team has ever advanced without winning. "Waterloo Day" for Austrian football in Euro 92 qualifying at Landskrona, Sweden, where the Faroe Islands defeat Austria 1–0 in the former's first ever international match.

♣ 1991 in football

In the inaugural Women's World Cup held in China, the USA win 2–1 over Norway (for the first time a Northern American team win a World Cup). After being banned for six years, English clubs are again allowed to participate in competitions sponsored by UEFA. Diego Maradona is banned for 15 months in Italy's Serie A after testing positive for cocaine in a drug test. The CAF Women's Championship is played for the first time won by Nigeria. The CONCACAF Women's Championship is played for the first time in Haiti, won by USA. The Sudamericano Femenino, CONMEBOL's main women's tournament, is played for the first time, hosted and won by Brazil. The FIFA World Player of the Year is assigned for the first time.

♣ 1992 in football

The back-pass rule is applied, whereby a goalkeeper is no longer permitted to pick up or catch a ball played directly by a fellow team member's foot. In the final of Euro 92, Denmark surprisingly win 2–0 over Germany. Stadium Furiani disaster takes place in Bastia, Corsica. FA Premier League created as the top flight in English Football. The first FIFA Confederations Cup is organized in Saudi Arabia, and won by Argentina. Capello's Milan wins Serie A unbeaten.

♣ 1993 in football

Olympique de Marseille becomes the first French club to win the European Cup, newly renamed as the UEFA Champions League, defeating AC Milan 1–0 at the Olympiastadion in Munich. Marseille also win Ligue 1, but are stripped of the title due to a corruption scandal. 18 members of the Zambia national team die in a plane crash. Manchester United win the first FA Premier League title. Brian Clough retires from his coaching role in Nottingham Forest after 18 years as coach.

♣ 1994 in football

The 1994 World Cup held in the United States was the first to be decided on penalties, with Brazil edging out Italy in the final at the Rose Bowl to claim their fourth title. Russia's Oleg Salenko becomes the first player and only to this day to score five goals in a single World Cup game in his country's 6–1 win over Cameroon. In the same match, 42-year-old Roger Milla of Cameroon, becomes the oldest player ever to score in a World Cup match.

♣ 1995 in football

The second FIFA Confederations Cup is organized in Saudi Arabia, and won by Denmark. The Bosman ruling allows all footballers playing in the European Union and not under contract to freely change clubs, and also abolishes foreign player quotas with respect to EU nationals. Norway win the second FIFA Women's World Cup. Suwon Samsung Bluewings is founded.

♣ 1996 in football

Bayern Munich becomes the third club in the history of European football to have won all three major UEFA competitions after winning the UEFA Cup. In the Euro 96 final, Germany defeat the Czech Republic 2–1 with a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff; Nigeria become the first African team to win the Olympic Tournament. A football women's tournament is played for the first time at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, won by the United States.

♣ 1997 in football

Helenio Herrera, legendary coach of Inter in the 1960s, dies.

♣ 1998 in football

In the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, France win 3–0 over Brazil at Stade de France to claim their first World Cup. Palestinian Football Federation is admitted to FIFA. The first openly gay footballer, Justin Fashanu commits suicide.

♣ 1999 in football

The USA, the hosting nation, defeat China in a penalty shootout to win the Women's World Cup in front of the largest crowd ever to witness a women's sporting event. Organized in Italy by UEFA the first continental tournament for regions: the UEFA Regions' Cup, won by Veneto. Mexico win the Confederations Cup: for the first time a male national team form Northern America win a FIFA tournament. The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup is abolished.

2000s

♣ 2000 in football

France wins their second European Championship title after beating Italy 2–1, with a golden goal in extra time. First FIFA Club World Cup, won by Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. FIFA Player of the Century, a one-off award created by FIFA to decide the greatest football player of the 20th century, is awarded to Pelé and Diego Maradona, shared: both men are officially considered winners of the award.

♣ 2001 in football

Real Madrid sign playmaker Zinedine Zidane of Juventus in a world record transfer fee of 72 million euros. Colombia wins the 40th edition of Copa América, as hosts. Australia beats American Samoa 31–0 in 2002 World Cup qualification, the world record in an international match.

♣ 2002 in football

Brazil sets up a record fifth title in World Cup competition, the first ever to be played in Asia (also the first outside Europe and the Americas), defeating Germany 2–0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final. The first FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship is held in Canada, with the USA defeating the hosts in the final 1–0 on a golden goal in extra time.

♣ 2003 in football

Founded the NF-Board, the first international organization for FAs not admitted to FIFA. Paolo Maldini makes history by captaining AC Milan to a champions league victory, a feat his father Cesare did with the same club exactly 40 years before. Latvia is the first football team from the Baltic states to make an appearance in a major football competition, UEFA Euro 2004.

♣ 2004 in football

Greece produce one of the shocks in football history and become surprise winners of the Euro 2004 football tournament, defeating hosts Portugal 1–0 in the final. Waitakere United is founded. Arsenal wins the 2003–04 FA Premier League unbeaten, the second time an English club goes undefeated for an entire season.

♣ 2005 in football

The Champions League final in Istanbul sees Liverpool come back from a 0–3 half-time score to defeat A.C. Milan 3–2 in a penalty shootout, following a 3–3 draw. Also, a match-fixing scandal rocks German football, though it does not directly affect the Bundesliga. The Australian A-League is launched in replacement of the NSL to improve the quality of the game in the country.

♣ 2006 in football

The 2006 World Cup is held in Germany and won by Italy on a penalty kick shootout over France, and Zinedine Zidane plays his last professional game in the final captaining France only to be sent off in extra time. A major match-fixing scandal erupts in Italy, with five Serie A teams implicated. Egypt record victory for the fifth time in the African Cup of Nations.

♣ 2007 in football

Brazil wins the 42nd edition of Copa América, held in Venezuela. Iraq produce one of international football's greatest fairytale victories as the fractured, war-torn nation were crowned champions of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. FIFA Women's World Cup is held in China and won by Germany. On 9 November Étoile Sportive du Sahel became the first African squad to have won all official club competitions recognized by CAF, after defeating Al-Ahly 3–1 in the CAF Champions League final in Susa.

♣ 2008 in football

Spain win their second European Championship title after beating Germany 1–0. Italy and A.C. Milan becomes the first national and club side to wear on their jerseys the FIFA badge of World champions. CONCACAF Champions Cup is replaced by the CONCACAF Champions League, modelled after the UEFA Champions League expand his participant teams from 8 to 24. The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup is played for the first time in New Zealand, won by Korea DPR. The Women's Viva World Cup, the first World Cup for women's national teams not affiliated to FIFA, is played for the first time, hosted and won by Sapmi.

♣ 2009 in football

The FIFA Confederations Cup is won by Brazil and is held in South Africa (for the first time a FIFA tournament for senior national teams is held in Africa). Spain achieves two world records: most consecutive wins (15) and most matches without a loss (35, with Brazil). Barcelona achieves a sextuple: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. RB was founded.

2010s

♣ 2010 in football

1. The FIFA World Cup is held in South Africa, the first African nation to host the tournament. Spain win the World Cup for the first time, becoming the first nation outside of South America to win the tournament outside of Europe.
2. The FIFA Ballon d'Or is awarded for the first time (to Lionel Messi) after France Football's Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award were merged.
3. Egypt win the Africa Cup of Nations for the third time in a row.
4. Inter Milan win the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, beating TP Mazembe, the first African club to reach the final.

♣ 2011 in football

1. Japan defeat the United States in the FIFA Women's World Cup final to win the tournament for the first time.
2. Barcelona wins the FIFA Club World Cup for a then-record second time, beating Santos in the final.

♣ 2012 in football

1. Zambia defeats third-time finalists Ivory Coast after a dramatic penalty shootout in the final, giving Zambia their first continental title, becoming the fourteenth nation to win the tournament.
2. Tahiti wins the OFC Nations Cup for the first time, becoming the first nation other than Australia or New Zealand to win the tournament.
3. The 2012 VIVA World Cup, played in Iraqi Kurdistan, with 9 participants, holds the largest number of participating teams for a non-FIFA tournament. The hosts emerge as winners in the final match played against Northern Cyprus, who fail to win a non-FIFA tournament in which they took part for the first time.
4. Spain wins the 2012 European Championship: for the first time the trophy was won by the same team twice in a row.
5. Lionel Messi scores 91 goals, establishing the new world record for most goals scored in a single calendar year, surpassing Gerd Müller's record of 85 set in 1972. Corinthians wins the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time, beating Chelsea in the final.

♣ 2013 in football

1. Nigeria wins the Africa Cup of Nations for the third time, ending their 19-year wait after defeating surprise finalists Burkina Faso.
2. Nigeria wins the FIFA U-17 World Cup for a record fourth time.
3. Bayern Munich wins the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, beating Raja Casablanca in the final.

♣ 2014 in football

1. Japan wins the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time.
2. The FIFA World Cup is held in Brazil for the second time, the first South American nation to host the tournament in 36 years.
3. Julio Grondona, continuous president of AFA since 1979 dies in office.
4. The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is held in Canada, the first nation to host the tournament twice.
5. Germany wins both competitions above.
6. German Miroslav Klose becomes the all time FIFA World Cup top scorer with 16 goals.
7. Real Madrid becomes the first team in European history to win 10 European titles and wins the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, beating San Lorenzo in the final.

♣ 2015 in football

1. The FIFA Women's World Cup is held in Canada, United States defeat Japan in the final to win the tournament for the third time.
2. Chile win the Copa America for the first time, in home soil after defeat Argentina in the final.
3. The FIFA Ballon d'Or is awarded (to Lionel Messi) and he won the fifth FIFA Ballon d'Or in his career.
4. Australia win the AFC Asian Cup for the first time.
5. Sepp Blatter (1998–2015) ends his tenure as president of FIFA and is replaced by the acting president Issa Hayatou.
6. Barcelona win the FIFA Club World Cup for the third time, beating River Plate, in the final.

♣ 2016 in football

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina, Spain Barcelona) wins the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or and Carli Lloyd (United States, United States Houston Dash) wins 2015 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year.
2. Gianni Infantino is elected president of FIFA.
3. Copa America Centenario is hosted in the United States, the first time the Copa is held outside of South America. 16 teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF participate, and the tournament is won by Chile on penalties after defeating Argentina in the final.
4. Euro 2016 is held in France, the third time the nation hosts it. Portugal defeats France 1–0 in the final to claim their first major championship in their history.

♣ 2017 in football

1. in January, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid) wins The Best FIFA Men's Player and Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash, United States) The Best FIFA Women's Player.
2. in May, Juventus becomes the first team in Italian football history to win 6 national titles in a row and the first in win the Italian Cup thrice consecutively, beating Lazio in the final.
3. In October, FIFA Council officially recognized all European and South American teams that won the Intercontinental Cup as club world champions with the same status to the FIFA Club World Cup winners.
4. Manchester United become the UEFA Europa League champions and Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League.

♣ 2018 in football

1. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah breaks record for the most goals scored in a 38-game season in the Premier League. Salah also won goal of the year and the PL golden boot.
2. Real Madrid win their third consecutive Champions League by beating Liverpool. Atlético Madrid become Europa League Champions. Atlético Madrid beat derby rivals Real Madrid to become UEFA Super Cup champions.
3. The 21st edition FIFA World Cup is held in Russia and is won by France for the second time. The World Cup broke the record for most penalties.
4. UEFA launches the first edition of the UEFA Nations League
5. Switzerland and Lithuania hosted respectively the U-19 and U-17 feminine competitions. The masculine versions of U-19 and U-17 are hosted by Finland and England. These 4 competitions are won by Spain (feminine: both U-19 and U-17), Portugal (masculine: U-19) and the Netherlands (masculine: U-17).

♣ 2019 in football

1. The FIFA Women's World Cup is hosted by France and is won for the second time, and fourth overall, by the United States after defeating the Netherlands in the final.
2. Algeria win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and Brazil win the 2019 Copa América.
3. Liverpool F.C. win the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, beating fellow English side Chelsea F.C. who won the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final in the latter.
4. Manchester City F.C. complete a clean sweep of the English trophies, winning the 2018–19 FA Premier League, 2019 FA Cup Final, 2019 EFL Cup Final and 2019 FA Community Shield.

2020s

♣ 2020 in football

1. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most leagues are either suspended or abandoned. Amongst the postponed tournaments are the 2020 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, 2020 Copa América, UEFA Euro 2020 and the Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics, all of which are scheduled to be held in 2021.
2. During a match between Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, Christine Sinclair scores her 185th international goal, the most of any footballer in either gender.
3. Bayern Munich win the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final and the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, beating Europa League winners Sevilla in the latter.
4. Liverpool win their 19th English title, their first since 1989–90 and their first in the Premier League era.

♣ 2021 in football

1. Chelsea win the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final in Porto, their second Champions League Title. They follow that up by winning the 2021 UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal.
2. The UEFA Euro 2020, originally scheduled for 2020, took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy emerged as the champions after defeating England in a thrilling final that went into a penalty shootout.
3. Argentina win the 2021 Copa America, a record-equaling title and their first since 1993.
4. Manchester City win the 2020-21 Premier League, extending their total to 5.
5. Atletico Madrid win their first title since 2014, breaking the Real Madrid and Barcelona stronghold.
6. LOSC Lille win their fourth Ligue 1 title and their first in ten years.

♣ 2022 in football

1. Real Madrid win a record-extending 14th Champions League title by beating Liverpool 1-0.
2. Manchester City win the 2021-22 Premier League title on the last day, pipping Liverpool to the title.
3. The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup is held in Qatar and won by Argentina (their third time).

♣ 2023 in football

1. Manchester City complete a historic treble by winning the 2022-23 FA Cup, 2022-23 Premier League, and their first Champions League title. They also win the 2023 Club World Cup Final in Saudi Arabia.
2. SSC Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years.
3. Bayern Munich seal their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title after a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Mainz.