New Delhi, June 11 -- FIFA and the FIFPRO players' union said Wednesday they have agreed to a landmark cooperation agreement for major decisions including transfer rules and health and safety standards.

The agreement on a memorandum of understanding, which FIFA called "historic," was announced on the eve of the World Cup opener. It comes 10 months after the European Court of Justice ruled some decisions by international governing bodies, such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, can be challenged outside Switzerland.

The announcement also comes less than two months after a new international group representing soccer players - the Association of International Footballers, or AIF - was founded in Madrid in April to rival FIFPR...