| The game of soccer, played between two teams of | | | | Association, the next oldest are the Scottish FA (1873), |
| 11 players each, is by far the most popular sport in the | | | | the FA of Wales (1875) and the Irish FA (1880). Strictly |
| world. Today, football is played at a professional level | | | | speaking, at the time of the first international match, |
| all over the world, and millions of people regularly go to | | | | England had no other partner association against which |
| football stadium to follow their favourite team, whilst | | | | to play. The spread of soccer outside of Great Britain, |
| billions more watch the game on television. Since, | | | | mainly due to the British influence abroad, started slow, |
| soccer evokes great passions and plays an important | | | | but it soon gathered momentum and spread rapidly to |
| role in the life of individual fans, local communities, and | | | | all parts of the world and today it is an undeniable truth |
| even nations; it is therefore often claimed to be the | | | | that the game has die hard fans all over the globe. |
| most popular sport in the world. | | | | Scholars might have conflicting views on the origins of |
| The game is played with a ball on a rectangular grass | | | | the game and the influences that certain cults may |
| field with a goal at each end of the field. The object of | | | | have had on its evolution, but one thing is absolute truth: |
| the game is to score by manoeuvring the ball into the | | | | football has flourished for over a thousand years in |
| opposing goal. The team that scores the most goals | | | | diverse rudimentary forms, in the very region which |
| by the end of the match wins. A game is officiated by | | | | we describe as its home, England and the British Isles. |
| a referee, who has "full authority to enforce the Laws | | | | Football is governed internationally by the International |
| of the Game in connection with the match to which he | | | | Federation of Association Football (FIFA). The most |
| has been appointed" and whose decisions are final. | | | | prestigious international football competition is the World |
| The referee is assisted by two assistant referees. A | | | | Cup, held every four years. More than 190 national |
| standard adult football match consists of two periods | | | | teams compete in qualifying tournaments within the |
| of 45 minutes each, known as halves. There is usually | | | | scope of continental confederations for a place in the |
| a 15-minute "half-time" break between halves. The end | | | | finals. Since 1900, Summer Olympic Games also holds |
| of the match is known as full-time. | | | | a football tournamnet. After the World Cup, the most |
| The contemporary history of soccer dates back to | | | | important football competitions are the continental |
| more than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England, | | | | championships, which are organised by each |
| when rugby football and association football branched | | | | continental confederation and contested between |
| off on their different courses and the world's first | | | | national teams. These are the European Championship |
| football association was founded - The Football | | | | (UEFA), the Copa América (CONMEBOL), African |
| Association in England. Both forms of football have a | | | | Cup of Nations (CAF), the Asian Cup (AFC), the |
| common base and both have a long and intricately | | | | CONCACAF Gold Cup (CONCACAF) and the OFC |
| branched ancestral tree. After the English Football | | | | Nations Cup (OFC). |