Football

Football is a broad family of team sports played globally.

The central objective is to move an inflatable ball toward an opponent's end. Players aim to score by putting the ball into a goal or between goalposts. A defining rule is that players must use only their bodies to move the ball. They may carry, throw, or kick the ball, but they cannot use equipment like bats or sticks.

Most versions feature teams with between 11 and 18 players. Some variations are smaller, using five or more players per team.

These sports are categorized into two main classes based on how the ball moves. The first class includes carrying codes. Examples include American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, rugby union, and rugby league. In these games, players move the ball by holding it or passing it by hand. The second class consists of kicking codes. These include association football, often called soccer, and Gaelic football. In these versions, players move the ball primarily with their feet. Handling the ball is strictly limited in these kicking games.

Common skills are required across almost all football codes. Players must master passing, tackling, and catching. They also use evasion to avoid being tackled by opponents. Most codes include rules to manage player positioning, such as the offside rule. When scoring, players often have to navigate a crossbar located between the goalposts. While the methods of movement differ, the competitive spirit remains a shared element.

Ancient history shows that ball games have existed for millennia. In China, the game of cuju involved kicking a ball through a circular hole. FIFA cites cuju as the earliest known form of football. During the Asuka period in Japan, people played kemari, where players kicked a ball in a circle.

Ancient Romans also played ball games using air-filled balls, such as the harpastum.

In the Americas, the Inuit played a game on ice called Aqsaqtuk. Indigenous Australians played Marn Grook using balls made from possum skin.

Modern football codes largely stem from 19th-century England. These rules grew from games played at English public schools. Before this, medieval Europe saw the rise of "mob football."

These matches were often played between towns or villages during religious festivals like Shrovetide. These games could involve unlimited players clashing to move a bladder toward a specific landmark. By the late 1800s, distinct regional codes began to emerge. Gaelic football, for instance, used local rules to preserve its cultural heritage.

Professionalism arrived with the founding of the Football League in England in 1888. This was the first of many professional associations. The expansion of the British Empire helped these rules spread to many different parts of the world.

As a result, various versions of the sport became some of the most popular games on Earth. Today, the term "football" changes meaning depending on the location. In the United States, it refers to gridiron football. In Australia, it refers to Australian rules football. In many other nations, it refers to association football.

Football connects people through shared rules and intense competition. Whether played on a massive pitch or a small field, the core mechanics remain.

The sport relies on the physical interaction between players and the ball. It combines athletic skill with strategic movement. From the ancient courts of Kyoto to modern professional stadiums, the essence of the game persists. It remains a powerful way for people to demonstrate teamwork and physical mastery.