Federations directory: international + continental

This federations hub connects the dots between the world championship pages and the continental selection pages. Use it to jump straight to the governing bodies that run the competitions listed in our single-sport world championships directory and our continental sport-specific selection. International federations write the global rulebooks, award hosting rights, and sanction the flagship world titles. Continental federations coordinate qualification, rankings, regional titles, and technical education across their zones. If you are mapping a pathway for a team, athlete, or club, start here to confirm the correct authorities, then move into the detailed sport pages to find regulations, eligibility, and calendar windows.

What this directory covers

The directory consolidates the federations tied to the events summarized on two sibling pages: the International sport federations (single-sport world championships) page and the Continental sport-specific federations (selection) page. It highlights who runs each world championship, which continental bodies manage regional championships and qualifiers, and how the layers connect. Many sports operate multiple disciplines under one roof. Cycling spans road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, and BMX. Paddling spans canoe sprint and slalom, marathon, wildwater, ocean racing, and canoe polo, while SUP and dragon boat are under different authorities. Fishing is a special case where CIPS umbrellas several sub-federations, CMAS governs spearfishing within underwater sports, and IGFA sets global records and rules rather than a single world championship. This index keeps those relationships clear so that planning and compliance are straightforward.

International federations are recognized at the world level and typically publish statutes, competition rules, disciplinary codes, anti-doping programs, and hosting frameworks. Continental federations apply those frameworks regionally, publish qualification bulletins, run technical seminars, and maintain ranking lists that feed directly or indirectly into world-level quotas. National federations affiliate to their continental body and the global body, entering teams or athletes according to published quotas and entry standards. When in doubt, verify your national federation’s membership list, then consult the continental federation’s calendar for the relevant discipline and age category.

How to navigate this hub

1. Identify your sport and discipline. Confirm whether you are dealing with a national team format, an individual or trade-team format, or a mixed structure.
2. Check the international federation responsible for the world championship or world series listed for that discipline.
3. Locate your continental federation. Pathways and quotas usually flow through these bodies, including youth, U23, and club tiers.
4. Open the technical regulations and qualification system for the current cycle. Note definitions for age categories, roster limits, equipment specs, and minimum results standards.
5. Map the calendar windows. Many sports use home-and-away windows, regional championships, or promotion and relegation tiers that affect timing and travel.

International federations covered here

These global bodies sanction the flagships described on the single-sport world championships page. The flagship column points to the primary world title for each sport or umbrella. Some sports use an annual cycle, others a two to four year cycle. Where multiple bodies appear, they govern distinct but related disciplines under the same activity family.

Continental confederations at a glance

Continental bodies connect national federations to world events. They deliver regional championships that may be direct qualifiers or ranking events. They also run club competitions in some sports, administer coaching and officiating pathways, and implement integrity programs. The examples below mirror the selection page and show how the same sport maps across all five continents and Oceania. If your region is not listed for a given sport, check your national federation’s guidance, as some disciplines use sub-regional championships or open qualification standards instead.

What to check before you enter

Before committing to a qualifier or championship, confirm the current handbook for your discipline and category. Key items include eligibility timelines, nationality rules where applicable, roster size limits, event entry caps, and any Minimum Eligibility Requirements. Equipment compliance is common across technical sports such as cycling, canoeing, rowing, and equestrian, with pre-event control procedures and post-event inspections. In team sports, review substitution rules, tie-break procedures, and seeding criteria. For multi-discipline championships, note that some events run in the same city but retain separate technical handbooks, so do not assume that one set of rules covers all disciplines.

Calendar alignment matters. Windowed qualification in basketball and football can overlap with domestic leagues, while seasonal peaks in cycling, rowing, and canoeing correlate with weather and venue availability. Continental events sometimes carry bonus ranking weight in the year before a world championship, which can affect quotas or seeding. If your sport uses promotion and relegation across divisions, make sure you understand how final placement affects the next cycle and whether hosting guarantees participation in a given tier.

Open the directories

International federations directory: /events/federations/international/

Continental federations directory: /events/federations/continental/