Who Invented Soccer?

The history of soccer is a widely discussed item. Who has the answer?

With soccer (known in the rest of the world as football) widely believed to be one of the world’s most popular sports, many wonder who invented soccer, and how the

game as we know it came into being. Just as watching a soccer game is interesting, so are the explanations of who invented soccer. Many cultures claim the game as their own invention, and there are few definitive answers to help us decide who is right.

The Far-Reaching History of Soccer

People of ancient China would have a hard time recognizing the game we all known as soccer or football even though the history of soccer can be traced back to a game they called cuju. The ancient Romans and Greeks also had a game similar to the sport as well as the people in medieval Europe. Pig bladders were employed as the ball and inflated and leather from animal skins was stuffed with old rags and straw to resemble a spherical shape that could be batted around with the feet.

Regarding the history of soccer, the game similar to the sport we know today was banned in London in the mid 14th century amidst increasing violence that surrounded the game. However, the game was still played and enjoyed increasing popularity in Europe. Eventually, the game became more civilized and was played in school to keep the students fit as well as spur on friendly competitiveness.

Roots in the Last Century

The history of soccer that we know of today has modern roots that can be traced back to mid 1860’s England. The sport became popular with the many schools and they began to compete with each other more easily thanks to the rail system between towns. However, there was a slight problem – each team had its own set of rules and it was hard to play each other.

In 1863, the Football Association (FA) was formed to try and develop one set of rules so that each team could play each other in a fair game. As these rules were agreed upon, the sport became more popular outside of school and the working class started playing after work and as a pastime.

Another history of soccer tidbit was the formation of the first formal competition called the Football Association Cup or FA Cup in 1871. This competition was so popular that more and more clubs playing soccer (or football as the English called it) adopted the universal rules. These universal rules are the basis of how the sport is played today all around the world.

Today’s Roots

Once one set of rules became the norm, the history of soccer showed that several entrepreneurs saw profitable possibilities in creating professional soccer teams. This phenomenon eventually spread to other countries like Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the United States. In the U.S., there were several governing associations formed to regulate soccer in this country and until 1974, the word "football" was used in their names in place of soccer just like other parts of the world.

Today, there are many soccer teams around the globe and many world renowned celebrities from the sport. These players are one of many from a long legacy in the history of soccer.

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