Association football

People play a game with a ball.

It is called football or soccer. Two teams of 11 players play together. They try to score goals.

Players use their feet to move the ball. They can also use their head or chest. They must not use their hands.

Only the goalkeeper can use hands. This is only in their own area.

A match has two parts. These parts last 45 minutes each. The whole game takes 90 minutes.

This is a very popular sport. It is played in over 200 lands. About 250 million people play it.

Many people watch the big games. They watch on TV or the internet. It is a fun game to play.

Association football is a team sport. Many people call it football or soccer.

It is the most popular sport in the world. About 250 million people play it in over 200 countries.

Two teams of 11 players compete on a pitch, which is a field.

The goal is to score more points than the other team. Players move the ball into a goal to score. Most players use their feet to move the ball. They can also use their heads, chests, or thighs. However, they cannot use their hands or arms. Only the goalkeeper can use hands. They can only do this inside their own penalty area.

A full match lasts 90 minutes. It has two 45-minute halves.

The game follows the Laws of the Game. These rules started in 1863. A group called the IFAB looks after these rules. FIFA is the main group for the whole world. They run the FIFA World Cup. This is a very big contest for national teams. The men's World Cup is the most-watched sport on Earth.

Association football is the most popular sport on Earth.

About 250 million people play it in over 200 countries. Many people call it football or soccer. In Great Britain, most people say football. In the United States and Canada, people often say soccer.

The game brings people together through skill and teamwork. It is a sport that people watch and play everywhere. Billions of people enjoy watching matches on television or the internet.

Two teams of 11 players compete on a pitch.

The goal is to move the ball into a rectangular goal. Players want to score more goals than the other team. Most players use their feet to kick or pass the ball. They can also use their heads, chests, or thighs. However, players cannot use their hands or arms. Only the goalkeeper can use their hands. This is only allowed inside their own penalty area. If the score is tied, the game might end in a draw. Some games use extra time or a penalty shoot-out to find a winner.

Kicking games have existed for a very long time. The Chinese game called cuju is one of the earliest examples.

Players in cuju tried to kick a ball without it touching the ground. In Japan, people played a ceremonial game called kemari. Many different cultures had their own versions of ball games. In the Middle Ages, people in France played la soule. These older games were often different from the rules we use today. They sometimes involved using hands or even sticks.

Modern rules began to take shape in England. The Football Association, or the FA, was founded in London in 1863. They wrote the first set of rules called the Laws of the Game. These rules stopped players from kicking opponents in the shins. The first official international match happened in 1872 between Scotland and England.

Later, the first football league was started in Birmingham in 1888. A group called the IFAB has helped maintain the rules since 1886. FIFA was formed in Paris in 1904 to manage the sport globally.

Today, football is organized by many different groups. FIFA is the main international body for the sport.

Under FIFA, there are six large groups called confederations. The most famous contest is the FIFA World Cup. The men's World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event in the world. In Europe, the UEFA Champions League is a very important club competition.

The final of this tournament is the most-watched annual sporting event on Earth. Football connects people from every corner of the globe.

Association football is the most popular sport in the world.

It is played by an estimated 250 million active players. These players live in over 200 different countries and territories. The game is often called football or soccer. In Great Britain, most people use the term football. In the United States, Canada, and Australia, people often say soccer. The term "association" comes from the Football Association (the FA). This group was founded in London in 1863. They published the first official rules to distinguish this sport from rugby.

The game is played on a pitch between two teams. Each team has 11 players. The main goal is to score more goals than the opponent. Players move a ball into a rectangular-framed goal. A standard match lasts 90 minutes. This is divided into two 45-minute halves. The ball has a circumference of 68 to 70 centimeters. Players use their feet to strike or pass the ball. They may also use their head, chest, or thighs. However, players cannot use their hands or arms. Only the goalkeeper may use their hands. This is restricted to their own penalty area.

The rules of the sport are called the Laws of the Game. These laws have been in effect since 1863. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has maintained these rules since 1886. If a match ends with equal goals, it may be a draw. In some competitions, teams play extra time. They might also use a penalty shoot-out to decide a winner. These rules ensure the game is fair and consistent. They prevent dangerous actions like hacking, which is kicking an opponent in the shins.

Kicking games have appeared in many cultures throughout history. The Chinese game cuju is the earliest recorded kicking game.

In cuju, players passed a ball without letting it touch the ground. They aimed to kick it through a circular goal. During the Tang dynasty, players began using inflatable balls. Other ancient games include kemari in Japan and pasuckuakohowog in North America. Greek games like episkyros and phaininda also existed. However, those ancient games often involved more hands and violence than modern football.

Modern football began to standardize in 19th-century England. The Cambridge rules were written in 1848 at Trinity College. Many clubs formed during the 1850s with different rules. The Sheffield Football Club was formed in 1857. In 1863, the FA held meetings at the Freemasons' Tavern in London. They established thirteen original laws. One major disagreement involved "hacking" or kicking shins. A club called Blackheath FC refused these rules and left. They eventually helped form the Rugby Football Union in 1871.

Important milestones helped organize the sport into a global system. The FA Cup was founded in 1872 by Charles W. Alcock. The first official international match occurred in 1872 between Scotland and England. In 1888, William McGregor founded the first football league in Birmingham. FIFA was formed in Paris in 1904 to govern the sport internationally.

FIFA works with six continental confederations. These include the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA. This structure allows the sport to grow across every continent.

Today, football is a massive global event. The FIFA World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event in the world. The men's World Cup is a premier stage for national teams. In Europe, the UEFA Champions League is a top club competition. The final of the men's Champions League is the most-watched annual sporting event globally. While Europe and South America have historically dominated, football is improving in Africa, Asia, and North America. The sport connects billions of people through television and the internet.