Soccer (football)

Soccer is a popular sport played all over the world. Even though it has only been popular in the United States for the past 30 years, soccer has been a long time favorite for almost everywhere else. The sport dates back to the Egyptians, who played games involving the kicking of a ball. Now, the sport has grown to a global pastime, including men's and women's teams, and the World Cup (which is played every four years).

Soccer originated with kicking games played by people in ancient civilizations. The modern version came about in the early nineteenth century, in England. It started as a game involving kicking and handing, but later this branched off into two separate sports: rugby and football (which is what the English call soccer). Around the late nineteenth century, English soccer began spreading over Europe. Other countries also caught on, but the United States was one of the most reluctant, and one of the last to implement soccer as a national sport.

United States

English: Shunsuke Nakamura taking a free kick, dur...

United States

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was formed in 1968. But it didn't gain popularity until the 1970's.

The modern game of soccer has a simple goal: kick or head the ball in to the goal of your opponent's team. Basically, there is also one simple rule: No one except the goalkeeper may use they're hands to play the ball. Soccer is a simplistic sport. Eleven members of each team defend their side of the field to prevent the ball from being forced into their goal, which results in a point scored by the team kicking the ball. There are only three officials involved during play: The referee, and two linesmen.

The equipment used in soccer is also very simple. In addition to the field itself, all that is needed for a game is...