The history of soccer, also known as “football” in many other parts of the world, dates back to ancient China and Mexico, although several other countries around the world had their own versions of a head and foot game that resembled today’s soccer.

In those days, the goal took several different forms—like bamboo shoots or curtains hanging on a wall. Early balls were heavy stuffed leather but later evolved to lighter, inflated leather balls to carry more easily.

Ironically, the ancient Chinese regarded soccer as a game played only among the noble class, whereas the British noble class watched as peasants duked it out on the field. In 12th century England, matches lead to injury and even death. Some avid players fought the church and state to keep the game going. The soccer of that time and place resembled rugby. This lead to a later splitting of “football” into at least three separate sports—the main three being soccer, rugby, and what we know today as American football.

It wasn’t until the 15th century when England introduced the idea of uniforms that the game became a spectator sport of the upper class. The uniforms helped the noble fans distinguish the players from one another and among teams.

Some credit the famous English school of Eton College for making soccer what it is today. In 1815, the college established a set of rules which soon caught on with other schools, colleges, and universities and became standardized into what are known as the Cambridge Rules.

By the late 1800’s, British traders, sailors, and soldiers spread the game all over the world. In Europe, Germans, Italians, and Austrians took to the game, as well as South Americans, especially in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.
The first international game, a match between Scotland and England, took place in 1872 in Scotland.

The soccer uniform included heavy boots and heavy wool socks. The boots featured metal stud cleats and toecaps for added protection. As you might imagine, soccer players started wearing shinguards on the outside of theie socks. Overall, the uniforms were more physically restrictive, the game not being as competitive and athletically graceful as it’s known for today. The nineteenth century also introduced the idea of the eleven-side game and of kicking the ball over the line for a goal.

The International Federation of Football or FIFA was founded in 1904 and the first tournament took place in London in the 1908 Olympics. The first World Cup took place in 1930, and since its inception, seven countries have dominated: Brazil, Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Argentina, England, and France. In 1938, the final World Cup game between Italy and Czechoslovakia was broadcast on the radio for the first time, bringing millions of fans into the picture from the comfort of their homes.