Association football, also known as football or simply football, is a ball-based team sport played by a rectangular ball with 12 players on each team. It is the most popular sport in the world, playing on an average of 21 people per match. Football can be played by teams of any size, from youth teams to professional sides. Most popular football leagues have competitions for different age groups, with the young professionals playing against other youngsters. Major league football matches are always played at a rectangular shaped goal, with goals labeled as red, white, or blue.
The birth of football can be traced back in England in the late 19th century. Two Englishmen, sporting a passion for the sport, set up a small soccer club in order to play a match. The match was played in a muddy field and despite the heavy rain, the team managed to score two goals in a row. This was the beginning of the first international football tournament. This game marked the first time that two countries engaged in a sport competition and it also paved the way for the formation of the World Football Association (Federation of International Football Associations) and the Football World Cup. The World Cup is currently the most prestigious and decorated cup in the history of global football.
As you can see, football is so much more than a ball. The sport is more of a way of life and a way of living. Many nations across the globe are now actively competing in international competitions and seeing football as not just a sport but more of a way of life. So next time you watch the football match, don’t just see the ball, but also the people playing the game.