Football

The attacking player 10 attempts to kick the ball into the net behind the opposing team's goalkeeper here wearing red and yellow to score a goal.

Highest governing body FIFA

Nicknames

The beautiful game The Worlds Game 1 2

 

First played Mid-19th century England 3 4

Characteristics

Contact Yes

Team members 11 per side

Goalkeeper

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Mixed sex No separate competitions

Type

Team sport ball game

Equipment Football or soccer ball

Football boots

Shin guards

Kits

Gloves for goalkeepers

Venue Football pitch also known as football field football ground soccer field soccer pitch or pitch

Glossary Glossary of association football

Presence

Country or region Worldwide

Olympic Men's since the 1900 Olympics and women's since the 1996 Olympics

Paralympic 5 a side since 2004 and 7 a side from 1984 to 2016

Association football more commonly known as football or soccer a is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a ball around a rectangular field called a pitch.

The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by moving the ball beyond the goal line into a rectangular framed goal defended by the opponent. Traditionally, the game has been played over two 45-minute halves, for a total match time of 90 minutes. With an estimated 250 million players active in over 200 countries and territories, it is the world's most popular sport.

Association football is played in accordance with the Laws of the Game a set of rules that has been in effect since 1863 and maintained by the IFAB since 1886. The game is played with a football that is 68 70 cm 27 28 in in circumference. The two teams compete to score goals by getting the ball into the other team's goal between the posts, under the bar and fully across the goal line  When the ball is in play the players mainly use their feet, but may also use any other part of their body, except for their hands or arms, to control, strike, or pass the ball; the head, chest, and thighs are commonly used. Only the goalkeepers may use their hands and arms, but only within their own penalty area. The team that has scored more goals at the end of the game is the winner. Depending on the format of the competition, an equal number of goals scored may result in a draw being declared with 1 point awarded to each team or the game may go into extra time or a penalty shootout5

Internationally, association football is governed by FIFA. Under FIFA there are six continental confederations: AFC CAF CONCACAF CONMEBOL OFC and UEFA. National associations e g the FA in England, U.S. Soccer in the United States etc are responsible for managing the game in their own countries both professionally and at an amateur level, and coordinating competitions in accordance with the Laws of the Game. The most prestigious senior international competition is the FIFA World Cup. The men's World Cup is the most-viewed sporting event in the world, surpassing the Olympic Games.6 The most prestigious competition in European club football is the UEFA Champions League, which attracts an extensive television audience worldwide. The final of the men's Champions League is the most-watched annual sporting event in the world.