With so much attention linked to the multipurpose term “football” some might wonder where the name “soccer” fits into the mix. “Association football” was the name given to the organized sport of kicking a ball into a goal. The name then got shortened to “assoc” and then to “soc” by English college students who were avid players of the sport. Thus, “soccer” was born.

The earliest form of soccer is credited to the Chinese who commonly recognized it as “Tsu Chu” around 2500 B.C. “Tsu Chu” can be translated to “kicking the leather stuffed ball with the feet” and was part of a physical education program to teach soldiers. 

Later, “Harpastum” was a game adopted by the Romans. It was played using a leather skin ball stuffed with animal fur. It was a very fast and violent game with little restriction. The games would often reach teams of over 100 players on each side. 

The English have showed signs of games similar to soccer being played from the 8th century. By the 14th century the Royal Family banned the popular game because soldiers were spending too much time playing soccer; it took away from the practice and dedication they were supposed to spend practicing archery or for military purposes. Some citizens were imprisoned for continuance of the sport and yet others continued the tradition. 

By the early 1800s several versions were being played in schools throughout England. Unfortunately, there was no set of rules that each school followed making it difficult for one organized team to play another. Some universities allowed the use of hands, others did not. 

Finally in 1848 Cambridge University created the rules that everyone would later accept for organized soccer. In 1863 the English Football Association was founded in London and by the end of the year the game was split into rugby and association football. 

Soccer began to develop all throughout the world and several teams were formed. This allowed for the need of a proper international organization. In 1904 the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was organized. Delegates from France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden came together to create FIFA to “promote the game of association football.” 

By 1912 there were 21 national associations affiliated with FIFA and by 1930, the year of the first World Cup, the number increased to 41. Currently, FIFA has above 200 members in all parts of the world.