The history of football (soccer) begins in 1863, it was then that the first international ball was held, it was held between the national teams of England and Scotland. Football is the most popular team sport in the world, the goal in which is to score the ball in the opponent's goal more times than the opposing team will do in a set time. The ball can be kicked with the feet or any other part of the body (except the hands).
Each football team must consist of a maximum of eleven players (this is how many can be on the field at the same time), one of whom is the goalkeeper and he is the only player allowed to play with his hands within the penalty area at his own goal.
A football match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each. Between halves there is a 15 minute rest break after which the teams swap goals. This is done so that the teams are on equal footing. The football game is won by the team that scores more goals in the opponent's goal. If the teams finish the match with the same score of goals, a draw is fixed, or two extra time periods of 15 minutes are appointed. If the extra time ended in a draw, a penalty shootout was awarded.
Where did the distinction between soccer and football come from?
One of the most famous differences between British English and American English is the fact that the sport known as soccer in the UK is commonly referred to as soccer in the US. Since the sport originated in England, football is called soccer; in fact, the word is quite British in origin. So why is football called soccer by Americans more often than Brits? The answer lies in the way the sport has developed in each country.
As we wrote above, football was born in 1863, when the newly formed Football Association of England wrote a set of rules. At the time, it was the most common game of its kind in the country, but not the only one. Rugby soccer, named after an English boarding school, was a variation that allowed players to carry and run with the ball to advance it toward the goal. The game, played under Football Association rules, became known as association soccer.
In the United States, meanwhile, a sport that borrowed elements of rugby and football emerged in the late nineteenth century. Completely it was known as gridiron football, but most people never gave much thought to the first word. As a result, American football players increasingly began referring to their sport as football.
Most interesting football facts of all time
It's no secret that football is followed by most of the world. It is this sport that has won the hearts of not only the adult generation and men, but also children and women. In this regard, there are such interesting football history facts as:
- Football is the most popular sport on earth;
- Only Canadians and Americans call Football - Soccer;
- In 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women from playing on its fields;
- Brazil is the only team to have participated in all World Cup tournaments;
- The maximum number of goals was scored by Stephane Stanis (France) in December 1942;
- In 1990, Cameroon became the first African side to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup;
- The Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio;
- The first Super Bowl was played in 1967.
Football is the most popular sport in the United States. The National Football League (NFL) governs the game at the professional level, organizing a 17-week season for 32 teams in two conferences, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. The title game, known as the Super Bowl, is usually the most watched television event of the year.
If you want to know more interesting facts about football, the vastness of the Internet will help you to reveal all the secrets of this sport.
For example, American Football itself is a relatively recent sport that came into existence in 1892. It is rooted in two sports, soccer and rugby, which have long been popular in many countries around the world. On November 6, 1869, teams from Rutgers and Princeton played the first college soccer game. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that Yale rugby great Walter Camp initiated rule changes that gradually transformed rugby into a new game, American football.
List countries that are considered the best in Football
Many countries are eager to get on this list and become the best in soccer, but not all can keep the bar so high and for so long. From this section we will find out which country has the best soccer in the world. Which countries are in the top 5 of this ranking and why. Some facts and history, let's go:
- Brazil;
- Argentina;
- Germany;
- Italy;
- France.
This list was derived from live match statistics for the entire duration of football tournaments. It's no wonder Brazil is at the top of the list, is it, and here's why.
Brazil
The first place is given of course to Brazil, there are more than 1202 footballers, it is this country that makes excellent results in this sport. It is home to some of the most gifted and technical football players of all time, including Zico, Socrates, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romario and, of course, the legend himself with over 1,000 goals and three World Cups. Who is the best football player in the world? - Pele (Brazil). This is the country with the most World Cups in history.
Argentina
Argentina is home to two of the greatest football players in history, Maradona and Lionel Messi, with the latter accounting for 6 of the 7 Balon D'or victories for Argentina. Another Argentine legend is Sergio Agüero, although he has not had much international success with the national team.
Germany
Germany is the most successful European nation in history, with 7 World Cup/Euro Cup victories to their credit - more than any other nation. Germany has been known for its success and incredible players for decades, from Gerd Muller to Thomas Muller, Franz Beckenbauer to Lothar Matthäus.
In total, there are 15 countries where football is considered one of the best sports. You can study this question more thoroughly if you ask for help through an internet search engine. You will have something to learn or emphasize for yourself if you are a fan of Football today like us.
Varieties and types of play in world football
Apart from football that we are used to understanding and seeing on TV screens, there are other varieties of it in the world. There are several modern varieties of this game, among them:
- Standard football,
- Rugby soccer,
- Gaelic football,
- Australian football,
- American soccer,
- Canadian soccer,
- Lelo Burti,
- Calcio,
- Beach football,
- Futsal (AMF), Futsal (FIFA) or mini-football,
- Micro-futsal and others.
So how many types of football games are there in the world today? Their number is growing every year, now there are more than a dozen of them (see above list), which fans of this sport are happy about, because you can play the ball in different ways. It's not just fun, it's a way of life and possibly new sports in the future.
Major football tournaments or Best football competitions
From the Champions League to the World Cup, football has some of the most unique and prestigious tournaments in the world of sport. In this guide, we will know what are the major football tournaments in the world, and how to bet on them and which bookmakers are best to use - search the vastness of the internet.
The biggest football tournaments worldwide:
- FIFA World Cup;
- The Summer Olympics;
- UEFA Champions League;
- UEFA European Championship;
- UEFA Europa League;
- Women’s World Cup;
- Copa America;
- Copa Libertadores;
- Africa Cup of Nations;
- FA Cup;
- Premier League.
FIFA World Cup
It is an international tournament held in different countries every four years. Traditionally, the football tournament moves from one continent to another each time, and a new host is chosen several years in advance. The traditional format of the tournament involves 32 teams being split into eight groups, with the top two teams coming out of each group. A direct elimination tournament is then held. However, in the future, the World Cup will be expanded and 48 teams will compete for the prize.
The first World Cup was held in 1930 and was won by Uruguay. Since then, only eight teams have won the tournament, with Brazil having the most wins with five. The newest country to join the list of winners was Spain in 2010.
Up-to-date list of Football teams
The final stage of the 17th European Championship will be held in Germany, whose national team is a three-time continental champion. EURO 2024 is the first major football tournament in Germany since 2006, when the Germans hosted the World Cup. The EURO will be held in 10 cities across the country, including the capital in Berlin.
Which football teams are playing today:
- Arsenal;
- Brighton;
- Chelsea;
- Crystal Palace;
- Liverpool;
- Manchester United;
- Newcastle United;
- Nottingham Forest;
- Sheffield United;
- Tottenham Hotspur;
- West Ham United;
- Wolverhampton, etc.
The draw for the final stage of UEFA EURO 2024 took place on December 2 in Hamburg. That's how the distribution goes by group:
- Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland;
- Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania;
- Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England;
- Group D: winner of the Road A knockout matches, Netherlands, Austria, France;
- Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, winner of Routes B knockout matches;
- Group F: Turkey, winner of Routes C knockout matches, Portugal, Czech Republic.
There is already open access to all the current regulations in the world of football, you can find any information about upcoming matches and who will take part in 2024.
Ranking among the best football players
Naming the best ranked footballer on the planet is an almost impossible task, given the variety of options in terrific form and constantly improving. We've compiled a list based on a variety of factors, taking into account short-term form, but particularly strong or weak 2023/24 seasons aren't the deciding factor in many cases. Trophies, league strength, stats, professionalism scores and a host of other aspects all combined to become our criteria for the list.
Football player ratings are made up like this:
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami);
- Kylian Mbappé (PSG);
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich);
- Erling Haaland (Man City);
- Kevin De Bruyne (Man City).
For the first time in a decade, we had to genuinely reflect on the No. 1 choice in football, and we didn't find one obvious reason to rule Messi out of the top spot. Messi continues to dominate games for club and country. His performances have helped Argentina win trophies at the Copa America and World Cup, while a rock-bottom MLS team, Inter Miami, turned into Cup finalists in a month. Messi's time may soon be over, very possibly, but for now we can find no excuse to drop a player with such talent, such influence and impact, from the top rankings.
Conclusion
Today, following football matches is easy and simple because most people have cell phones and internet access. Now you can watch matches both live and via live streaming. Football fans and those who like to bet on football can choose absolutely any online platform and win with their favorite team. Betting on is now leading the world, because this sport as well as its rules know most of the globe.
The rules are simple, statistics and teams are known, which means it is much easier and more profitable to predict the upcoming matches. It is now opening more and more online sites with football and various options for betting on it. Competitive odds, generous bonuses and of course unforgettable emotions - all this is available in one click. Mobile apps have started to fill the space on phones, choosing the best bookmaker for football betting - you have an incredible chance to win and improve your skills in this amazing football game.