The Ultimate Guide to the History of Soccer

For about as long as human beings have been organized enough to play games, we’ve played ones that involve kicking a ball. Records of games using a rock or a basic ball made of animal hide date back to ancient China, Rome, Greece, and Mesoamerica. All over the world, people had roughly the same idea. And from the start, it was serious stuff.

In medieval England, people played a game known as folk football, often in town squares. It involved both kicking and punching the ball. Games were rowdy and violent. Property was wrecked, injuries were common, and deaths were not unheard of. The game was banned for centuries in England until it reappeared in a more recognizable—and calmer—form at boarding schools in the early 1800s.

Establishing Soccer Rules

At one school, Eton, the game was primarily played using the feet. But at the Rugby School, players also used their hands. Eventually, rugby would split into its own sport and spawn American, Canadian, and Australian versions of football.

The game played at Eton became the soccer we’re familiar with today. In 1848, players convened at Cambridge University to standardize the rules of the game. Several schools adopted these Cambridge Rules, and when players graduated, they formed local football clubs in towns across England, playing under this same set of rules.

In 1863, the English Football Association was formed and adopted official rules of the game. To distinguish between the game that originated at the Rugby School and this one, people referred to them as “rugby football” and “association football.” These phrases were shortened to “rugger” and “assoccer”—and it’s that second phrase that eventually morphed into the word soccer. Calling the sport soccer (rather than football) caught on in countries where other kinds of football sports were also popular. That’s why you’ll hear soccer used more commonly in the U.S.

Across England, soccer became a beloved pastime, both to play and to watch. Recreational teams formed, which were then organized into leagues. Other countries formed teams and leagues following this model. In 1904, soccer’s international governing body, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), was formed to organize matches between national associations and teams. Players started to be paid for their performance on the pitch, and professional soccer was born. Soccer debuted at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900, and has been in every Summer Olympics since, with the exception of 1932, when a controversy over players’ amateur status kept the sport out.

Key moments in soccer history:

1848: Cambridge Rules established.
1857: Sheffield FC (England) becomes the world’s first official football team.
1863: Association football and rugby football split into distinct sports.
1872: The first official international match, between England and Scotland, ends in a 0-0 draw.
1888: Penalty kick is introduced.
1900: Soccer is first played at the Olympics.
1904: FIFA is formed.
1930: Inaugural World Cup. Uruguay wins.
1991: Inaugural Women’s World Cup. USA wins and will go on to capture 3 more titles.
1994: U.S. hosts the World Cup for the first time.
1996: Women’s soccer makes its Olympic debut. USA wins gold.

Soccer Goes Global

Soccer spread throughout the world as colonialism, immigration, and trans-oceanic travel created a more global community. European colonists brought the game to countries in Africa. Sailors introduced it in Argentina. It caught on so quickly because the rules are simple and you don’t need much equipment. With a ball and a couple of markers for goals, anyone can play.

With teams now well established around the world, FIFA organized the first World Cup in 1930. It was played in Uruguay, and the host country was crowned champion after defeating Argentina. Today, soccer is recognized as the most popular sport in the world. It’s estimated that over 200 million people play soccer, and fans number in the billions. FIFA has 211 members—that’s actually more than the number of countries in the world (195) because FIFA also recognizes teams from independent territories, like Puerto Rico.

Evolution of the Game & Gear

Most of the basic rules of soccer have been in place since the late 1800s, but a couple of the most notable updates include:

Use of penalty cards: Red and yellow penalty cards were introduced for the 1970 World Cup as a way to give spectators immediate visual reference for a referee’s ruling. (Tackling a player from behind didn’t become an official red card offense until 1998.)
Offside: This rule dates back to the 1860s, but it’s changed over time. Originally, a player on the opposing team’s half of the field had to have at least 3 opposing players in front of him, including the goalie. In 1925, the rule was updated to allow for just 2 players in front. And in 1990, it was revised again. A player can be called for being offside if they’re closer to the opposing team’s goal line than the ball or the second-to-last player of the opposing team (including the goalie).

Soccer gear (or a player’s “kit”) has remained relatively simple, but as with all major sports, special modifications have evolved to assist in performance. Soccer shoes have probably undergone the biggest change. In the early days of working-class British football clubs, players sported steel-toed boots with spikes drilled into them for traction. Clearly a safety issue, these were prohibited by the late 1800s. Today, players wear high-tech cleats designed to be lightweight, provide traction on the field, and aid in lifting and moving the ball. Shin guards help prevent injuries, and shirts and shorts made from advanced fabrics help players stay cool, comfortable, and highly mobile during the game. Official rules require goalies to wear a shirt that’s a distinct color from the other players, the other goalie, and officials, and most goalies also opt to wear extra padding and long pants to help protect their legs in cases of diving catches. Goalie gloves are specially designed to cushion the hands and help secure the ball.

A Unifying, Diverse Sport

One of the things that makes soccer so special is that it’s played virtually everywhere. The game’s simplicity crosses language barriers and makes it easy for just about anyone to play anywhere there’s an open field. The unifying power of the sport is perhaps best exemplified by the WWI Christmas Day Truce of 1914, when soldiers from England and Germany put down their arms and met in No Man’s Land to exchange holiday greetings and play a bit of soccer.

Modern international soccer competition brings people together from all over—in person and through broadcasts and social media. The 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar was enjoyed in person by some 3.4 million spectators, and another 1.5 billion watched the final on TV. With 32 teams competing, the World Cup truly represents the whole globe. While fans root hard for their national teams, the event also unites people of different cultures and backgrounds over their shared love of the game.

Ongoing Legacy

Soccer remains hugely popular worldwide, and although it’s taken a while to catch on in the U.S., over 13 million Americans now play soccer at least once a year, a trend that’s been steady for more than a decade. U.S. viewership of international matches is up, and the success of the U.S. Women’s National Team has created a cultural phenomenon, inspiring more American girls to take up the sport. With the U.S. hosting a portion of games for the 2026 World Cup, interest is only expected to grow. There are currently 29 MLS clubs in the U.S. and expansion continues. Soccer has grown faster than any other major league sport in North America. It seems that the simple game of moving a ball downfield with only your feet won’t be losing its appeal any time soon. Thousands of years after our ancestors first found the fun in kicking a rock past an opponent, soccer endures as a unifying pastime the whole world over.