It was established on 4 October 1904, and today functions as an alliance association (Swedish: Alliansförening) for seven separate clubs competing in different sports.

IFK Göteborg was founded on 4 October 1904 as the second iteration of an Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna association in Gothenburg, the previous start-up in 1895 did not live for long.

[19] The cross-country skiing section was created in 1967, and has mainly seen local success, with the best position in a Swedish championship competition being a 14th place in ski-orienteering.

On district level, IFK skiers won 34 championships in the first 20 years of the section, almost half of the titles in ski-orienteering.

[20] A major goal for many of the section members is Vasaloppet, and in recent times between 10 and 15 skiers usually have competed for IFK Göteborg in the races each year.

IFK Göteborg's most successful period was from 1982 to 1996, when the team prospered in European football and won 10 out of 15 Swedish championships.

[22] The club has a men's team playing in the Swedish Futsal League, claiming three championship titles as of 2016.

[29] IFK Göteborg has won the two most prestigious club relay competitions in the world in recent years.

[33] The women's team have finished second and third in Tiomila in recent years, and the side was further strengthened in 2022 by signing Simona Aebersold who joins world champion Sara Hagström at the club.

Three years later the section had over 100 members and arranged the 1959 European Speed Skating Championships for Men together with IK Wega.

[18] Olympian Harry Larsson competed for IFK Göteborg and won a Swedish championship for the club in 1910.