FC Basel's first game was on 26 November 1893 against itself, an internal match between two ad hoc formed FCB teams against each other.
Two weeks later FCB had their first official appearance, in a game against a team formed by students from the high school gymnastic club.
In the early days, the club's team played only friendly matches, for example the local derby against BSC Old Boys (founded as FC Old Boys Basel in 1894) and also against Grasshopper Club Zurich (founded in 1886).
Basel did not compete in the first (unofficial) Swiss football championship which was held 1897–1898.
(NB: Despite all efforts, the editors of these books and the authors in "Basler Fussballarchiv" have failed to be able to identify all the players, their date and place of birth or date and place of death, who played in the games during the early years of FC Basel)