SUI is used for Switzerland because it comes from the French name Suisse , not from the English word “Switzerland.” It’s a common sports-style country code, especially in FIFA and Olympic contexts, while Switzerland’s more official international code is CH from the Latin Confoederatio Helvetica.

Why SUI

  • SUI = Suisse , the French name for Switzerland.
  • Switzerland has four national languages, so using French is part of a long international naming tradition rather than an English-based shortcut.
  • Different systems use different codes: SUI in sports, CHE/CH in other international standards.

In practice

You’ll usually see SUI on scoreboards, tournament brackets, and FIFA graphics, while CH appears in postal, official, or ISO-style contexts.

Tiny example

That’s why a World Cup scoreboard may show SUI for Switzerland, just like it may show FRA for France.

TL;DR: SUI is not an English abbreviation; it’s the French-derived country code used in sports and some international settings.