Soccer and Its History

 

While modern soccer can be traced back to England in 1800, many cultures and countries can claim forms of soccer that date back centuries. It is possible that ancient man played soccer on rocks.

One of the most popular stories about soccer’s origins is the story of a Danish Prince who was executed in the 8th century. According to the legend, his head was kicked on the ground and used as a ball. King Edward III was forced to make laws to prevent people from playing the game, as its origins are said to have led to injury and death.

However, modern soccer can be traced back to spbo bet England in 1800 when it was played by the Aristocracy and the upper classes. Soon, soccer was popularized by the common classes. Soccer is an easy and cheap sport that can be easily adopted around the globe. Many countries are influenced by their favorite soccer teams and clubs.

The London Football Association was established in 1863. It formalized European soccer rules. Soon, professional soccer teams were established and soccer heroes were born.

The popularity of soccer spread quickly. It was first played at the Olympics in 1900, just before the turn century. The Federation Internationale de Football Association, also known as FIFA, was established in 1904. In 1930, the first World Cup competitions took place. The World Cup is contested every four years by the 24 best football teams around the globe.

The United States Soccer Federation was founded in 1913. However, soccer has not enjoyed the same widespread popularity as it enjoys elsewhere in the world.

It is not acceptable to refer to soccer in America as “football”. American football is a totally different sport. Since the mid-seventies, soccer has been a popular sport in America. American soccer teams have also excelled in international competitions.

When Major League Soccer (MLS) was founded in 1993, it had 10 teams. It began its first season in 1996 with 10 teams. The playoffs were watched by 3 million people that year. Today, MLS consists 16 teams. It will grow to 18 teams in 2011.

The soccer ball evolved with the sport of soccer. The first ball likely had a human head or skull. The acceptance of skulls and heads is not acceptable today. The evolution of the soccer ball over the years has been characterized by sewn-up wads made of cloth, animal bladders, and finally a leather ball.

Charles Goodyear created a rubberized soccerball in 1855 after rubber was invented. The formal rules for soccer were established after FIFA was created. Because of the leather used in the initial design, inflatable soccer balls can now be used for kicks and can also be “headed” without knocking out players.

The growth of soccer in the world is not slowing down. It’s both professional and recreational players are growing rapidly.