The Beginning of Soccer
Soccer, also called football in most of the world, is one of the oldest and most popular sports on the planet. The game has roots that go back over 2,000 years to ancient civilizations like China, Greece, and Rome, where people played different types of ball games. Modern soccer started taking shape in England during the 19th century. Schools and local clubs created standard rules, and in 1863, the Football Association (FA) was founded in London, giving the game its first official set of rules. This helped make soccer a unique sport, different from others like rugby.
From England, soccer quickly spread across Europe and the rest of the world. British sailors, traders, and workers introduced it to new countries, and international competitions began to grow. FIFA, the global soccer organization, was founded in 1904 and later organized the first World Cup in 1930. Today, soccer is played everywhere, professionally and for fun, and is loved for its simplicity, teamwork, and the way it brings people from all cultures together.
