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The proper name of the sport is Association football (both words are part of the game's name; simply "football" is insufficient, though common). It refers to the game that is played using the IFAB's Laws of the Game, such as in the FIFA World Cup. The name is a reference to the English Football Association, which was (originally, and quite literally) an association of schools that agreed to use the same set of rules. Before the rules were codified into the first widely-accepted edition of the London Rules in 1863, each school had its own version of the rules.

The term "soccer" was coined in 1871 upon the foundation of the Rugby Football Union, an offshoot rule set originating from a disagreement during the codification of the London Rules (now known as IFAB'sLaws of the Game), in order to differentiate the different versions of football. The word itself was derived from the third through the fifth letters of "Association" ("soc") and used in a diminutive manner, much like those who call it "Football" might shorten the name to "footy".

Generally, the term "football" refers to a category or class of game, that is, one played with a ball and involves using the feet for a purpose other than running (or hurting people). In most parts of the world, local usage of the term refers to the most popular form of football played in the region, usually Association football.

In non-English-speaking countries, the game's name often means "football", such as "fútbol" in Spanish and "voetbal" in Dutch. This is an extension of the regional aspect of the name game, as explained above. If you translate these words into American English, they will mean "soccer", but a translation to British English will yield "football". The sport is called "football" in all of South America and Asia, most of Africa and Europe, and just a few places in Australia and North America (the usage in Antarctica is unknown, as the penguins aren't very talented and don't talk much).

Other forms of football include Rugby Union ("rugger"), Rugby League, American football (NFL or Gridiron football), Gaelic football (in Ireland), Australian Rules football, and numerous other lesser-known or obsolete rule sets. Even Kickball is sometimes called "football" by a very tiny population! These other football games are usually called "football" in regions and among groups where they are most popular.

In the United States, Ireland, Australia, and most of Canada and South Africa (and formerly, New Zealand), for instance, the more popular local football games are called "football" (such as NFL/Gridiron football in the United States). In such places, the term "soccer" is preferred in reference to Association football, and even defined as such in their dictionaries.

It is interesting to note, as mentioned above, that the term "soccer" was invented in England by the people who codified it - the same people many of whom now chide Americans for using that term! Conversely, some Americans who prefer the British term jokingly refer to Gridiron football as "throw-ball", much to the delight of their neighbors from across the pond.

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11y ago
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nlsc

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4y ago

People around the world: Football

U.S: Soccer

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Sabin

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2y ago
Not just Americans. Australians also.

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alexrmk11

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3y ago

Americans call it soccer

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Q: Why is Association Football sometimes called Soccer?
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Continue Learning about General History

Why is it called soccer?

it was originally called football everywhere but people started calling it soccer short for soccer association


How did you come up with the name soccer?

Football in England is run by the Football Association. Rugby is known as Rugby Football. To distinguish between the two people called football Association Football. The word 'association' was eventually shortened to 'soccer' by the general public.


Does soccer have another name for it like football?

Soccer is referred to as football in the United Kingdom.Answer'Soccer' is alternative name for 'Association Football'. The word Soccer started as a phonetically abbreviated vernacular word for Association football coined by English public school students who took the 'soc' from 'Association' and put an 'er' on the end. The same students called Rugby football 'Rugger' but this word has largely fallen out of use. Typically an Oxford University student who played Association football and Rugby football would be described as "an Oxforder who plays Soccer and Rugger". Association Football was coded in 1863 and this is why prior to this the word Soccer did not exist.


Soccer vs football?

It depends on what you mean by soccer vs football. If you are referring to the beautiful game. Most countries and territories call it football or something similar to the name. However, some countries say soccer(Association Football) because they have other sports or versions of football, such as American Football, Canadian Football, Australian Football, Gaelic Football and Rugby Football.


What the origin of soccer?

Soccer originally came from England while a few teenagers were mucking around in a college football match.A game played in the streets in England in which players were allowed to use any part of the body, including feet and hands, to take the ball from one side to the other. From this game derived Soccer, Football, and Rugby.

Related questions

Why does America call soccer soccer?

Soccer comes from Association Football, if they just called it football then it would get mixed up with American football. Association Football is abbreviated assoc which then changed to soccer. I call it football


How do you spell soccer the England version?

In England, soccer is called football (association football).


When was soccer called soccer?

Association football gained the nickname "soccer" in 1871 when the Rugby Football Union was founded. Both sports were called "football", so people called Association football "soccer" and Rugby football "rugger". Although "rugger" is rarely used anymore, the name "soccer" persists in several countries.


If it's called football worldwide where did the name soccer come from?

In America it was called Association football. People combined association player to "aSOCCiation" playER"to "Soccer".


What is the word origin of soccer?

It's from the word 'association' as in 'football association.'It originated in England with Association Football.


Soccer is also known as what?

Association Football the difference being that North American football has very little to do with feet, so why it is called soccer is a mystery, every where else in the world it is called "football"


Why is it called soccer?

it was originally called football everywhere but people started calling it soccer short for soccer association


What does FIFA represent?

Federation International of Football Association .They call it Football because the original soccer is Football. But in America they call it soccer but its really called Football.


What does soccer mean?

'Soccer' comes from the word 'association'. The 'Football Association' was formed in England to administer the Sport. It was an association of Football clubs. The game they administered became known as 'Association Football' to differentiate it from 'Rugby Football' which was also invented in the 19th Century. 'Soc' is a common diminutive of Society or Association, and so the game became known as 'Soccer'. There is now a myth in England, that only Americans have ever called it 'Soccer', whereas the British call it 'Football' and always have. This myth is not true. As recently as 30 years ago, everyone in Britain called it Soccer. Only our mothers ever called it 'Football', and we ridiculed them for it!!! 'Soccer' was the name adopted by the US when 'Soccer' (as it then was known) was first marketed earnestly in the States. Possibly BECAUSE the Yanks started calling it 'Soccer', the perverse British started calling it 'Football', and now bare-facedly lie that they have NEVER called it 'Soccer'. i think it has somethin to do with scoring or the roman gods


How did you come up with the name soccer?

Football in England is run by the Football Association. Rugby is known as Rugby Football. To distinguish between the two people called football Association Football. The word 'association' was eventually shortened to 'soccer' by the general public.


What is soccer called in Spain?

Because the game was invented here, a long time before American "Football". Question really ought to be, why do you call football "soccer". Grrr! ---- Soccer is an English coloquial version of the phrase 'Association Football' .The game is called Football NOT Soccer. The word 'Soccer' was used to describe on particular form of league of football.


Does soccer have another name for it like football?

Soccer is referred to as football in the United Kingdom.Answer'Soccer' is alternative name for 'Association Football'. The word Soccer started as a phonetically abbreviated vernacular word for Association football coined by English public school students who took the 'soc' from 'Association' and put an 'er' on the end. The same students called Rugby football 'Rugger' but this word has largely fallen out of use. Typically an Oxford University student who played Association football and Rugby football would be described as "an Oxforder who plays Soccer and Rugger". Association Football was coded in 1863 and this is why prior to this the word Soccer did not exist.