When did France start playing soccer?

Answer 1

Jules Rimet (left) was president of the French football federation and FIFA at the time of the first World Cup. The original World Cup trophy was named in his honor. The trophy itself had a rocky history: During World War II, Ottorino Barassi, an official of the Italian Football association, hid it in a shoe-box under his bed. Later, it was stolen during a public exhibition just before the 1966 World Cup Final, then recovered and stolen again, seventeen years later in Brazil. It hasn't been found seen since and many speculate that it may have been melted.

Modern Era

Soccer, as we know it today, was molded during the 1960s. Increased media coverage and TV broadcasts made the game far more popular than it ever was. Commercial air flight replaced traveling by ship, which made it more efficient to conduct international matches.

* http://www.expertfootball.com/history/soccer.php