Formed in 1897 on the initiative of Georges Doubitsky and fellow students of the Svenska Reallyceum, the Swedish lyceum in Helsinki, it is the oldest continuously-operating Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna (IFK) organization in Finland.

HIFK has sections in many sports, including athletics, bandy, bowling, football, ice hockey, and handball.

[4] The team plays in the Bandyliiga and their home arena is Brahenkenttä in the Alppiharju district.

Both teams play their home games at the Helsinki Urheilutalo in the Kallio district of the city.

The football section of HIFK was established in 1907, and its first team earned promotion to Veikkausliiga for the 2015 season.