Continental sport-specific federations (selection)

Continental sport-specific federations bridge national associations and the global governing body. They coordinate regional championships, qualification pathways to world events, rankings, officiating development, and club or franchise competitions where relevant. This page is a practical, sport-by-sport selection of continental organizations you will encounter when planning entries, understanding quotas, or locating technical regulations. Use it alongside the single-sport world championships directory: first find the international federation and world event for your sport, then match your country to the correct continental confederation below. Each section clarifies typical responsibilities, common competition formats, and how the continental calendar feeds into global championships.

How to use this page

Start with your national federation. Confirm which continental body it belongs to, then consult that body's calendar, entry circulars, and technical handbooks. Continental championships may act as direct qualifiers, offer ranking points that convert into world championship quotas, or function as stand-alone regional crowns. Age-group competitions (U17, U19/U20, U23), club tournaments, and discipline-specific cups often sit under the same umbrella. For multi-discipline sports (e.g., aquatics, cycling, canoe/kayak), look for discipline-by-discipline event pages within the continental site. If your sport appears to have limited continental coverage in certain regions, national or sub-regional competitions are typically recognized by the world federation for pathway purposes.

At-a-glance: continental bodies by sport (selection)

Football

Continental confederations run national-team championships, club competitions, and qualification for FIFA events. They also administer licensing, refereeing pathways, and disciplinary frameworks. For World Cup and youth tournaments, slot allocations are agreed with FIFA, and each confederation publishes its own qualifying format and calendar.

• UEFA (Europe)
• CONMEBOL (South America)
• AFC (Asia)
• CAF (Africa)
• CONCACAF (North, Central America & Caribbean)
• OFC (Oceania)

Basketball

FIBA's continental zones organize pre-qualifiers, qualifiers, and continental championships that feed into the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Women's World Cup. They also run youth championships, clubs' continental tournaments in some regions, and 3x3 circuits with ranking-based entry.

• FIBA Europe
• FIBA Americas
• FIBA Asia
• FIBA Africa
• FIBA Oceania

Volleyball

Continental confederations deliver national-team championships (indoor and beach), club cups, and junior events. They coordinate qualification to FIVB world competitions and publish technical regulations for roster limits, foreign player rules (for clubs), and venue standards.

• CEV (Europe)
• NORCECA (North, Central America & Caribbean)
• AVC (Asia)
• CAVB (Africa)
• CSV (South America)

Handball

Handball's continental bodies run elite and age-group championships, club competitions (notably in Europe), and referee/coach education. Their events feed into the IHF World Championships and Olympic qualification processes.

• EHF (Europe)
• AHF (Asia)
• CAHB (Africa)
• NACHC (North America & Caribbean)
• SCAHC (South & Central America)
• OCHF (Oceania)

Rugby union

Continental unions administer regional championships in fifteens and sevens, eligibility and discipline frameworks, and high-performance development. Qualification for the Rugby World Cup and World Rugby Sevens events flows through these unions, with promotion/relegation tiers common in Europe and the Americas.

• Rugby Europe
• Sudamérica Rugby
• Asia Rugby
• Rugby Africa
• Rugby Americas North
• Oceania Rugby

Field hockey

Hockey's continental federations stage regional championships in outdoor and indoor formats, junior events, and club tournaments (especially in Europe). Results influence qualification to FIH world-level competitions and Olympic quotas.

• European Hockey Federation (EHF)
• Asian Hockey Federation (AHF)
• African Hockey Federation (AfHF)
• Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF)
• Oceania Hockey Federation (OHF)

Water sports (aquatics)

Aquatics covers swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo, open water, and high diving. Continental organizations conduct championships that serve as world qualifiers or ranking events and coordinate technical officiating and anti-doping education with World Aquatics.

• LEN (Europe)
• Asian Aquatics
• Africa Aquatics
• PanAm Aquatics
• Oceania Aquatics

Table tennis

Continental bodies manage senior and youth championships, mixed team events in some regions, and qualification to ITTF world championships. They also run development programs for emerging national associations and oversee equipment compliance at regional events.

• ETTU (Europe)
• ATTU (Asia)
• ITTF Americas
• ATTF (Africa)
• OTTF (Oceania)

Cycling

Cycling's continental confederations mirror UCI's multi-discipline scope. They sanction road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX racing and freestyle championships, often with UCI Class categories that award ranking points. Continental results can unlock world championship berths and influence national quota sizes.

• UEC (Europe)
• COPACI (Americas)
• ACC (Asia)
• CAC (Africa)
• OCC (Oceania)

Golf

Continental golf bodies focus on amateur team championships, ranking integration, and elite pathways that connect to IGF-sanctioned events, including Olympic qualification interfaces via world rankings. They also coordinate junior circuits and rules education in partnership with national unions.

• EGA (Europe)
• APGC (Asia-Pacific)
• AGF (Africa)
• South American Golf Federation

Canoe/kayak

Paddle-sport confederations run continental championships for sprint, slalom, marathon, wildwater, ocean racing, and canoe polo. Entry standards and boat control procedures follow ICF technical rules, and results can provide quotas or ranking points toward the ICF World Championships.

• ECA (Europe)
• ACC (Asia)
• PA-Canoe (Americas)
• CAC (Africa)
• OCC (Oceania)

Rowing

European Rowing (ER) delivers senior, U23, junior, coastal, and beach sprint championships, aligning with World Rowing's evolving event portfolio. In other regions, continental coverage varies, so national regattas and regional multisport games often serve as the recognized pathway events toward world-level entries.

• European Rowing (ER)

Equestrian

Continental equestrian organizations coordinate championships and ranking events in Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Endurance, Vaulting, and Driving, under FEI regulations. They play a central role in Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), stewarding, and calendar harmonization with national federations.

• European Equestrian Federation (EEF)
• Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF)
• Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC)

Related pages

Global flagships: /events/competitions/single-sport-world-championships/

Federation directories: /events/federations/international/ and /events/federations/continental/