THE WORLD OF SOCCER

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 most 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. 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 get the ball into the goal of your opponent s team. 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 rules of play for soccer have deliberately been kept simple. The game starts off with a kick off, and the teams are allowed to pass, dribble, juggle, head, kick, and shoot the ball to place it down the field, and into their opponent's goal.

SOCCER IS KING

Most of the lists we have seen, whether based on most fans or most participants or whatever the definition of popular, World Football / Soccer is top of the list. Depending on what criteria you use for popularity, the next sports in the list may include basketball, cricket, volleyball, baseball and other versions of football (American, rugby).