FIFA headquarters - 10 Things to Know Before Visiting

The unique building unfolds along 134 meters (440 feet) in a series of sleek, glassy partitions. The building is comprised of multiple stories, with about two-thirds lying underground. The underground space includes space for archives, parking, meetings, technology and a prayer room. The segment above ground houses offices for 300 employees, the reception area and a conference room.

Although the building's simple exterior blends in with the woody landscape, the interior is marked by rich material luxury. Its design features costly works from glass, Brazilian shale, and American walnut wood. The aluminium walls in the headquarters were hammered from a specially constructed machine and are adorned with chrome steel hand railings that artfully reflect the light streaming inside.

Unlike many public buildings, where a transparent exterior suggests the ability of the outside world to keep an eye on the elected officials, FIFA headquarters' underground section closes it off completely to the public.

The third of its five underground stories contains the executive committee's meeting chamber. Aluminium walls and a cool, lapis lazuli floor lend the chamber an enclosed feel. This is where a small circle of leaders decides on reforms, rules, sanctions, legal issues and the world championships that have a profound impact on soccer worldwide.

The main element of the outside landscape design is a park to the south and west of the building, which interchanges dense forest vegetation with open fields and clearings. It is accessed by a meandering footpath that leads through the various plant worlds.

Plants from all six “football continents” are represented at the park, mirroring the activities of FIFA as the world governing body and organiser of global sports events. The park is made up of a mix of indigenous and exotic vegetation.

A savannah-like landscape stands for Africa, a copse of blossoms for Asia. Powerful groups of trees with an undergrowth of shrubs rise from fields of high grass, portraying Oceania’s bushland. Vegetation such as is found in mountain forests represents South America. Europe is portrayed by the small trees and bushes of varying heights along the indigenous forest’s edge, which extends the existing bordering forest onto FIFA’s property and ties the campus to the surrounding landscape by overriding the visual boundary.

FIFA headquarters was built for around 145 million euros ($184 million) with financial contributions from FIFA's 208 member countries. The construction of the building was completed in 2006, designed by Swiss architect Tilla Theus. The headquarters lie on FIFA Street, which was approved by the city specifically for the new structure.

The FIFA headquarters is not open to visitors. You can only view the structure from the outside.

1. The building complex is not open to the public. You can only view it from outside.

1. The main building of FIFA headquarters has only two upper levels, but five underground levels, resulting in two-thirds of the headquarters lying underground.
2. The park outside the building is made up of a mix of indigenous and exotic vegetation with plants from all six football continents represented mirroring the activities of FIFA as the world's football governing body.

FIFA headquarters can be visited easily in 30 minutes to 1 hour as the public does not have access to its interiors.

From Zurich central train station, take tram number 6 to reach the FIFA headquarters. It takes only 25 minutes to reach. Alternatively, you can walk for 50 minutes to reach it.

There is no fee to view the FIFA headquarters from outside. Public entry is not possible.

As FIFA headquarters can be viewed only from the outside, there are no particular opening hours for the public.