Soccer

Soccer, also known as football in most countries outside North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting a spherical ball into the opposing team’s net. The game is played on a rectangular field, known as a pitch, with a goal at each end. Players primarily use their feet to control and advance the ball, although they can use any part of their body except their arms and hands to play it, except for the designated goalkeeper, who is allowed to use their hands within a specific area known as the penalty area.

Soccer is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) at the international level, and the rules of the game are codified in the Laws of the Game as developed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The sport is the world’s most popular, with an estimated 4 billion fans globally and a rich history dating back to the mid-19th century in England. Major international competitions include the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship, among others. Soccer emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and skill, and is played at various levels, from grassroots to professional leagues worldwide.