Football is the world's most popular sport it is played by hundreds of millions and watched by billions of people around the world. FIFA, the world governing body of the sport, works with the 204 National Associations to ensure that football continues to enjoy this popularity through diligent management at all levels of the game. The UAE Football Association was established in 1971 under the chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Mubarak Bin Mohammad AI Nahyan.

First official foreign participation was in Arabian Gulf Cup in 1972 hosted by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In Celebration of the Centennial of the Federation Internationale De Football Association (FIFA), Emirates Post has issued a set of commemorative stamps in one denomination (375 Fils).