Association football

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a ball around a pitch. The goal is to score more goals than the opposing team by moving the ball into a rectangular-framed goal.

Traditionally, a match lasts 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute halves. With an estimated 250 million players in over 200 countries, it is the world's most popular sport. The game follows a set of rules called the Laws of the Game, established in 1863 and maintained by the International Football Association Board.

Players mainly use their feet but can also use other parts of their body except hands or arms. Only the goalkeepers can use their hands, and only within their own penalty area. Depending on the competition, games can end in a draw or continue with extra time or a penalty shoot-out.

Internationally, the sport is governed by FIFA, which oversees six continental confederations such as AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA. The FIFA World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event globally, even more than the Olympic Games. The UEFA Champions League is the top club competition in Europe, drawing huge worldwide audiences.

Name

Main article: Names for association football

Association football is one of many types of football games that have been played for centuries around the world. The word "association" comes from the Football Association, a group created in London in 1863 that made the first official rules for the sport. This name helped separate it from other types of football, like rugby football.

The word "soccer" started at the University of Oxford in England around 1875. It came from a special way of talking used there, adding “-er” to the end of words. People began calling the game “soccer” to avoid confusing it with other football games. Today, most places in Great Britain call it “football,” while many countries, such as the United States and Australia, usually call it “soccer.”

History

Main article: History of association football

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of association football.

Association football has a long and interesting history. The modern rules of the game began to take shape in the mid-19th century in England, where different schools had their own ways of playing football. These schools worked together to create a single set of rules.

Ancient precursors

Kicking ball games have been enjoyed in many cultures for thousands of years. One of the earliest known games was cuju, played in ancient China. Players would pass a ball and try to kick it through a small goal. Other ancient games included episkyros in Greece and various games in Rome.

Modern era

The modern game of football really began to take shape in the 19th century. In 1863, a group of people in England came together to create the first official rules for football. This group formed the Football Association, and their rules are the basis for the game we play today.

Contemporary era

Football has become a worldwide sport loved by millions. It is played in almost every country, and big tournaments like the FIFA World Cup bring together teams from all over the world to compete.

Women's association football

Main article: Women's association football

Women have been playing football for a long time, but they often faced restrictions. In recent decades, women's football has grown a lot and is now enjoyed by many people around the world. Big tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup showcase the best female players.

Gameplay

Association football is played using a round ball, with two teams of eleven players trying to score goals by getting the ball into the other team's net. Players mainly use their feet to move and pass the ball, but they can also use any other part of their body except their hands and arms, unless they are the goalkeeper.

The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins. If both teams score the same number of goals, the game ends in a draw. Players can move anywhere on the field and pass the ball to teammates, but they cannot commit fouls or handle the ball except during specific restarts like throw-ins. Different positions such as strikers, defenders, and midfielders help teams create and prevent scoring opportunities.

Laws

Further information: Laws of the Game (association football)

There are 17 laws that guide how association football, or soccer, is played. These laws apply to all levels of the game for both boys and girls, though some rules can be adjusted for younger players or those with special needs. The laws are created by FIFA and maintained by the IFAB.

Each team has 11 players, including one goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands, but only within a special area called the penalty area. Players need certain gear like shirts, shorts, socks, shoes, and shin guards to play safely. Substitutes can replace players during the game, usually up to five times in a match.

A referee oversees the game, helped by assistant referees. They make sure everyone follows the rules. If a player breaks a rule, they might get a yellow card as a warning or a red card, which means they have to leave the game. The referee can also let play continue if it benefits the opposing team, a strategy called "playing an advantage."

Governing bodies

Football, also called soccer, is managed globally by an organization named FIFA, whose main office is in Zürich, Switzerland. FIFA works with six regional groups that cover different parts of the world:

• Asia: Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
• Africa: Confederation of African Football (CAF)
• Europe: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
• North/Central America & Caribbean: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
• Oceania: Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)
• South America: Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (South American Football Confederation; CONMEBOL)

Each country has its own football association that belongs to both FIFA and one of these regional groups. FIFA organizes international tournaments and helps make the rules, but the basic rules of the game are decided by another group called the IFAB.

International competitions

Main article: List of association football competitions

International competitions in association football include contests between national teams and between clubs from different countries. The biggest event is the World Cup, organized by FIFA, which happens every four years. Over 200 national teams compete to qualify for this tournament. The World Cup is watched by billions of people around the world and is the most popular sporting event globally. The current champions are Argentina, who won in 2022.

Other important international competitions include continental championships, such as the European Championship, Copa América, and Africa Cup of Nations. These are held for national teams from specific regions. There are also club competitions like the UEFA Champions League, where the best teams from each continent compete against each other.

Domestic competitions

Main articles: Geography of association football and Geography of women's association football

In each country, football clubs are grouped into leagues that organize tournaments to find the best team. Each league has its own way of running things, but often teams play many matches over a season and earn points—for winning, drawing, or losing. At the end of the season, the team with the most points wins the league.

Some countries have special ways of deciding their champions. For example, in Latin America, leagues often split their season into two parts and crown a winner for each part. In the United States and Australia, leagues do not allow teams to move up or down between different levels of competition, and they use a playoff system to find the champion at the end of the season.

Variants and casual play

See also: List of types of football

There are many different ways to play association football. Some versions are for smaller teams, like five-a-side football. Others are played in special places, such as beach soccer, futsal, and indoor soccer. There are also versions for athletes with disabilities, known as Paralympic football.

People often play street football informally. They might use almost any ball and any open space, with goals marked by simple items. The number of players and the rules can change depending on who is playing.