essay story about soccer

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

118 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Soccer, also known as football in many parts of the world, is one of the most popular sports globally. With millions of fans and players worldwide, soccer has become a universal language that brings people together. Whether you are a die-hard fan, a player, or just someone who enjoys watching the game, there is no doubt that soccer has a special place in many people's hearts.

If you are a student looking for soccer essay topics for your next assignment, you've come to the right place. In this article, we have compiled a list of 118 soccer essay topic ideas and examples to help you get started on your writing journey. From the history of the game to its impact on society, there are plenty of interesting angles to explore when it comes to soccer.

• The history of soccer and its origins
• The evolution of soccer rules and regulations
• The impact of technology on soccer
• The role of referees in soccer matches
• The psychology of soccer players
• The influence of soccer on culture and society
• The economics of professional soccer
• The importance of teamwork in soccer
• The role of coaches in developing soccer players
• The impact of injuries on soccer careers
• The rise of women's soccer
• The controversy surrounding the FIFA World Cup
• The role of fans in soccer matches
• The influence of social media on soccer
• The psychology of penalty shootouts in soccer
• The relationship between soccer and politics
• The role of soccer in promoting diversity and inclusion
• The impact of globalization on soccer
• The history of soccer hooliganism
• The role of soccer academies in developing young talent
• The significance of soccer rivalries
• The impact of sponsorship deals on soccer clubs
• The rise of soccer analytics and statistics
• The influence of soccer on national identity
• The role of soccer in promoting physical fitness
• The impact of climate change on soccer matches
• The rise of soccer in the United States
• The relationship between soccer and gambling
• The history of soccer stadiums
• The role of soccer in promoting peace and unity
• The impact of social media influencers on soccer culture
• The ethics of diving in soccer
• The role of video assistant referees in soccer matches
• The impact of travel on soccer teams
• The influence of music on soccer culture
• The role of nutrition in soccer performance

As you can see, there are countless soccer essay topics to choose from. Whether you are interested in the history of the game, the impact of technology, or the influence of social media, there is no shortage of angles to explore when it comes to soccer. So, pick a topic that interests you and start writing your next soccer essay today!

Want to research companies faster?

Instantly access industry insights

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Leverage powerful AI research capabilities

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2024 Pitchgrade

124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

In your sports essay or research paper, you can write about FIFA players or compare soccer and American football. If you want even more ideas, check out this selection of 121 soccer topics to write about put together by our team .

⚽ Top 10 Soccer Research Topics

🏆 best topics about soccer, ⭐ simple & easy soccer essay titles, 📌 most interesting soccer topics to write about, 👍 good soccer titles for essays, ❓ soccer research questions.

• Famous fixing scandals in soccer.
• The career of Lionel Messi.
• Psychology of soccer fans.
• Racism during football matches.
• What makes a great soccer player?
• Incapacitating injuries in soccer.
• The best approach to football practice.
• Medicine of professional soccer.
• Differences between female and male soccer.
• My passion for playing soccer.
• Football and Soccer: Differences and Similarities The team usually consists of eleven players and the game is played on a field that has goals on either end of the field.
• Playing Soccer Game: Personal Experience During the game, I paid the main attention to team strategy and the configuration of players around the point of action.
• Planning for an Intramural Soccer Event The same goes for the organization of games, recruitment of referees, and raising the money required to hold the event. The operational plan was a significant determinant of the success of the event.
• Soccer in America: Its History, Origin, Evolution, and Popularize This Sport Among Americans The coverage of the history of this game which is also popularly known as soccer is quite diverse and different ideas have been put across as to where the game originated and its evolution to […]
• American Football’s and Soccer Comparison It is possible to say that the thirst to be better than the rest of people and to be the winner is in the nature of human being.
• Soccer and National Identity The jubilation and merry that is evident during the topmost soccer challenge in the world commonly referred to as FIFA world cup is testimony to the immense love that fans have for this game as […]
• Soccer Team, Its Positions and Their Roles You are the last player on the field and as such, are at a vantage position to not only see how other players are organized in the field of play, but can actually predict the […]
• South Africa World Cup and Destination Marketing The host had to create an African impression in every aspect from architectural designs of the stadiums to the opening ceremony because the event was to be held in Africa.
• Rhetorical Modes to Use When Discussing Soccer The advancement of urbanization and industrialization led to a reduced leisure period coupled with constant violence that undermined and slowed the game’s development. The team that outscores the rival is the winner, while scoring the […]
• The Scandal during the Soccer Match between Brazil and Tunisia Such incidents interfere with cohesion in society and the state because there is a division between supporters and sympathizers. People and organizations sanction those at the center of the scandal, which, from a sociological point […]
• Statistical Analysis: Soccer Premier League Because all of the data used in this project were of the quantitative type, it was relatively easy to calculate the values of the central tendency measures for them.
• Soccer Participation Issues in New York City My goal today is to describe the problem we as a soccer community face, discuss some of the solutions that would help resolve it, and the projections for the future with the benefits for a […]
• The Soccer Industry: Overview Soccer has become a major actor in the business sector around the globe today. In fact it has become a major industry worth billions of dollars a year.
• Plyometric Training for Female Soccer Players Jump performance capabilities were confirmed to improve in all the studies except the one by Ramirez-Campillo et al, who found the implementation of plyometric training is not associated with the extra impacts on female soccer […]
• Geometry Web Quest for Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Golf, Volleyball and Pool Field for golf is the biggest and made of grass, sand and water and is the biggest and it has no fixed shape. Soccer field is made of grass or synthetic material and is the […]
• The Lack of Soccer Popularity in the U.S. Lack of soccer popularity can be traced from historic events as well as the lifestyle of Americans.”American children grow up with the mentality that soccer is to be played for fun which is not an […]
• Soccer Articles About Kings of Diving Further, it is intriguing to realize that not only is it a commonplace practice, but it is utilized by some of the top players in the league.
• How Soccer Influences Society and Resolves Issues The fans are interested in the moves of the players and the scores. It is a game which the youngsters and parents alike.
• European Soccer: The Final UEFA Cup Match On the whole with the rest of Shakhtar players the game spread out on the whole area of the field and change for rather long periods of time the halves of the field provoking alternate […]
• Cultural Values Embeded in Soccer One of the cultural values embedded in soccer is socialization; socialization is promoted by the soccer events that are organized by the world soccer governing body FIFA.
• The Development of Soccer Analysis The fifth chapter is devoted to the analysis of interesting and relevant issues of the reasons of low popularity of soccer in the United States where other sports like baseball and basketball are dominant.
• Canadian Women’s Soccer Team’s Sport Marketing This paper identifies the best sponsor for the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team and how the two can collaborate to deliver positive results.
• The First Aid Knowledge of Youth Soccer Coaches To establish the interrelationship between the years of work and success in the First Aid Assessment test, a Pearson Product Correlation was used.
• Soccer Influence on Sociopolitical Aspects of WWI During this period, many footballers and athletes were tempted or encouraged to join the militaries of their respective countries and become part of the ongoing war.
• Soccer in the US and American Exceptionalism Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world in terms of viewership and participation. The fact that America is not the best in terms of producing the best soccer talents explains why […]
• Senior Management: Soccer Tournament It is chosen as the central deliverable because the successful organization of the tournament is the most desirable outcome of the project.
• Virtual Reality Technology and Soccer Training Moreover, the level of interactivity needs to be significant, and the most attention should be devoted to the modeling of situations that are viewed as the most problematic.
• “Superstar Effect” in Soccer and Its Importance The importance of the “superstar effect” in soccer is hard to overestimate because superstar players generate more revenues for the team by drawing more interest to it, providing it with better sports results, and being […]
• Virtual Reality Technology in Soccer Training Therefore, it is imperative to invest in this area to protect the safety of our technology and ensure that we have a viable product.
• Superstar Effect in Soccer: When Fame Makes a Difference The Superstar Effect, which manifests itself in football stars receiving incentives and financial rewards that other team members do not, can be viewed as a graphic example of the phenomenon analyzed.
• Soccer in England, Its History and Popularity With this in mind, it is possible to say that is the most popular game nowadays, soccer can be taken as a unique phenomenon in the world of sport.
• Soccer Players Market and Transfer Contracts The aim of this essay is to provide the insight into the soccer players market and to describe some of the deals. The increase in the popularity of the game led to the creation of […]
• Professional Soccer Player’s Training Methods As of the disadvantages of this method, it is, for the most part, limiting because using only words cannot help in developing new skills in the case of professional soccer players, as they need visualization […]
• Football in Saudi Arabia: The Soccer Al Nasser Club The sport was introduced to the Kingdom following the relations between the Europeans and the Saudis in the 20th century. The club has many supporters in Riyadh and the rest of the country.
• The Developement of Soccer in the Past Century The side that will have put in the most goals at their opponents’ side by the ending of the game is the winner.
• The Use of Technology in Soccer Additionally recent events starting from the 2010 world cup where England’s midfielder Frank Lampard was denied a goal and Chelsea being awarded a goal that the ball had not crossed the line attest to the […]
• Miniature Camera on Soccer Shirt The issue is that some of the motions and rapid movements may lead to confusion, and it is paramount to take all the necessary measures to make sure that the level of stability of is […]
• Virtual Reality in Soccer Training The following work will focus on the analysis of the use of Virtual Reality in the training of soccer players with the evaluation of the practices adopted by particular soccer teams.
• Soccer player – Karl Henning His marketing strategy will also help him increase his customers of the age of 6 to 10 who have a low level of awareness.
• What Defines Parental Techniques and Strategies: The Case of Soccer Moms However, it seems that Crohn’s idea of positive stepmothering is more relatable to the topic, since the technique of Chinese mothers, in fact, proves positive and does not seem to have any tangible effects on […]
• American Football in American Culture America as a country came about as a melting pot of cultures because many immigrants from different parts of the world moved to the States in search of the American dream.
• Soccer Business as a Possible Investment: When Everything Depends on the Movement of a Foot Hence, there are a number of ways to promote soccer and, thus, increase its popularity, which will make people join soccer clubs and contribute to the development of business based on the given kind of […]
• The Impact of Economic Factors On A Soccer Club
• Unequal Pay Causes the Women’s Professional Soccer to Fail
• Turkish Super League Soccer Clubs’ Usage of Internet as a Tool for Marketing Purposes
• The Three Types of Shooting in Soccer: The Finesse Shot, the Power Shot, and the Chip Shot
• The Socio-Economic Determinants of International Soccer Performance
• The Returns to Scarce Talent: Footedness and Player Remuneration in European Soccer
• The Reasons Why America Hated Soccer
• The Impact of Managerial Quality on Organizational Performance: Evidence from German Soccer
• Transformational Leadership in Youth Soccer
• Team Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, And American Football
• The Bosman Ruling and the Emergence of a Single Market in Soccer Talent
• The Social, Physical, and Mental Benefits of Soccer
• The Voyage of a Fortunate Soccer Player
• Scandals and Corruption in World Cup Soccer
• The Effects Of Soccer On Soccer ‘s Influence On The World
• What Is The Attributes Of The Soccer Starting Line-Up
• The Professional Soccer Career of Bastian Schweinsteiger
• The United States Soccer Pay Rates For Top Players
• Rationale Behind Crazy Transfer Fee of English Soccer Players
• Similarities And Differences Between Football And Soccer
• Youth Sports : The Benefits Of Youth Soccer
• The Importance Of Soccer Pre Game Warm Up
• The Social Interaction of a Men’s Soccer Team
• The Today ‘s Soccer Big West Conference Championship Game
• The Roles and Responsibilities of a Soccer Coach
• The Key Factor for the Lack of Success of the United States in International Soccer
• The Soccer Ball: Effect Of Air Pressure On The Movement Of The Soccer Ball
• The Inventors Of Modern Soccer English Soccer History
• The Economic Effects of the Soccer World Cup 2006 in Germany with Regard to Different Financing
• The Twelfth Man? Refereeing Bias in English and German Soccer
• Work Incentives and Salary Distributions in Major League Soccer
• The Effect Of Physics On Soccer And How It Impacts The Team Game
• The Soccer World Cup 2006 in Germany: Choosing Match Locations by Applying a Modified Cost-Benefit Model
• The History of Soccer in the World and America
• World Cup Soccer Football That Unites The World
• Professional Soccer Player As A Professional Athlete Player
• Willingness to Pay for Soccer Player Development in the United States
• Physiological Characteristics of Soccer Athletes
• The Soccer Community And The Martial Arts Community
• The Importance of Clubs in Helping Permanently Injured Soccer Players Get Proper Education
• How Does First Class Soccer Make a Good Soccer Retail Store?
• Are Soccer Players Older Now Than Before?
• How Did Soccer Affect the World Politically and Socially?
• Does Playing Experience Improve Coaching?
• How Does Biomechanics Influence Soccer?
• Does Sacking the Coach Help or Hinder the Team in the Short Term?
• How Can Make the Average Soccer Player Better Than Average?
• How Did the World Cup of 82’ Affect People’s Opinion on Soccer?
• How Does Soccer Play a YMCA Program Called Leaders’ Club?
• Should Goal Line Technology Be Used in Professional Soccer?
• How Did Soccer Become Popular in Africa?
• How Did Soccer Bring People Together After the Many Years of Diversity and Unity?
• What Shapes Player Performance in Soccer?
• How Could Soccer Positively Affect America?
• Why Can’t Soccer Make It Big in the US?
• How Has Soccer Changed Over the Years?
• Why Should Professional Soccer Players Get Paid More?
• How Can Soccer Injuries Be Prevented?
• What Kind of Mathematics Is Used When Trying to Predict Soccer Outcomes?
• How Has Soccer Influenced Afro-Brazilian Culture and Traditions?
• Does Technology Change Soccer for the Better?
• How Do Soccer Clubs in Saudi Arabia Use Season Tickets as a Source of Funding?
• Are Soccer Players More Physically Fit Than Other Athletes?
• How Do Soccer Players Communicate With Each Other on the Field?
• What Is the Future of Soccer in France?
• How Does Stress Affect Soccer Players?
• Why Is Soccer a Way to Interact in Our Society?
• How Can We Use Mathematics on Penalty Shootouts in Soccer?
• What Are at Least Three Possible Technological Developments You See in the Future of Soccer?
• Is It Economically Beneficial to Host a Soccer World Cup?
• Artificial Intelligence Questions
• Basketball Topics
• Hobby Research Ideas
• Golf Topics
• Olympic Games Topics
• NFL Research Topics
• Tennis Essay Titles
• Popular Culture Paper Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 26). 124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/soccer-essay-examples/

"124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/soccer-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 26 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/soccer-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/soccer-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "124 Soccer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/soccer-essay-examples/.

Soccer - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Soccer, known as football outside of North America, is a globally cherished sport with a rich history and significant cultural impact. Essays on soccer might explore its origins, the evolution of soccer rules and organizations, and the sport’s influence on international relations and national identities. Additionally, discussions might extend to notable soccer events like the FIFA World Cup, iconic soccer players, and the societal and economic aspects of soccer fandom and commercialization. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Soccer you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Informative Essay about Soccer

Soccer is the most played sport in the world today. As Alex Morgan one said, "It doesn't matter if its soccer, football, or futbol, This game brings people together". Soccer has a lot of background for its history, including the rules and regulations, has proven health benefits for playing the sport, and shows a lot of characteristics on why it's a team sport. Soccer is a sport that welcomes anyone to play and brings positivity and unity out in one's […]

Topic Soccer Balls Bounce

A ball will bounce differently depending on the surface because some surfaces are harder than others like grass, turf, concrete they are all different. Some surfaces absorb more energy than others do. A hard surface, such as concrete, absorbs less energy compared with a soft surface, such as a grass floor. The more energy absorbed by the surface, the less that remains in the ball for it to bounce. When a ball is dropped gravity pulls the ball toward the […]

The CAC 40 – the Paris Stock Exchange

The CAC 40: stands for "Cotation Assistée en Continu", which may be translated to continuous aided mercantilism, and is that the hottest benchmark index for funds finance within the French securities market. This index provides a general plan regarding the direction of the "Euronext Paris", that is that the largest stock market in France once referred to as the Paris stock exchange. CAC 40 represents the capitalization-weighted measure of the foremost forty vital values among the very best one hundred […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

The Rules and Process of Soccer

When you hear the word "soccer" do you right away freak out like most of Americans do, well I will explain why you shouldn't. Soccer is a beautiful sport that is played across five continents. Americans have a wrong understanding of playing soccer because they believe their kids will get hurt playing soccer, but they encourage their kids to play American Football when it is even more dangerous than soccer. There is a rules and process of playing soccer. Soccer […]

The Effects of Soccer on Health

The world is filled up and down with soccer. With no doubt it is one of the most popular sports in the entire world. That is because it can be played practically anywhere you can think of, backyards, parks, streets, and stadiums. During a soccer match players work their body to the maximum. They do a variety of physical activity like jumping, sprinting, shooting, and dribbling for a whole ninety minutes. Soccer has a great impact on not only physical […]

A Football Player Homare Sawa

Homare Sawa was a Japanese football player who led Japan to victory as captain in the 2011 Women's World Cup, she hopes the disparity between men's and women's teams in Japan will close. About 25,000 girls play football in Japan, but there are no professional leagues for women. Sawa herself played on the boy's team. The pay gap between the genders is stark and most of the members of Sawa's World Cup team have full-time jobs and could only train […]

Racism in Soccer

Racism has been a part of civilization for a very long time now and will be something that will always be around. It has even found its way into sports all around the world and the problem continues to grow. Sports of all kinds have this problem, from organizations such as the NBA and NFL, to the leagues in other countries. One of the biggest sports in the world, soccer, has one of the worst issues with racism. Since soccer […]

About Motion of Soccer Ball

When a soccer ball is kicked or in motion it is determined by newton's laws of motion. Newton's first law of motion states that an object will move in a straight line unless acted on by other external forces. Newton's second law of motion explains that the velocity, the speed of an object in a given direction, changes when it interacts with an external force. The forces that can stop and interfere with the motion of the soccer ball is […]

Why Soccer is the Sport most Famous

For many it is not a mystery that the sport of the Soccer (or fut-bol in other countries) is the physical activity that has more followers around the world, which raises passions, emotions, joys, rivalries, etc; all that is what the fut-bol brings. But why is this? In this essay from a very particular point of view I, because soccer is the most watched sport in the world, all aspects that for me make football the king sport in the […]

History of Soccer

Soccer is among the most loved and celebrated sports worldwide. People will spent a lot of money to buy soccer jerseys with the same number worn by their favorite soccer stars Soccer has evolved throughout time, from being a game without rules to a game that has a visual assistant referee.The game get its name from that people uses their foot to kick the ball. It was started more than two thousand years ago as some other games. The only […]

The Evolution of Soccer

The Evolution of Soccer around the world and how it gained its popularity throughout countries Soccer is a favorite sport played all over the world. Although it has just been prevalent in North America for as far back as 30 years, soccer has been quite a while most loved most wherever else. It is the national game of many European and Latin-American nations, and numerous different countries. The game goes back to the Egyptians, who played amusements including the kicking […]

The Psychology Side of Soccer

The psychology side of soccer has helped me through learning how to deal with situations, ways on how to solve problems together with my teammates, allowing myself to adapt and meet new people from different countries. Many athletes are confused about the role of soccer psychology and how mental training can improve your performance. The goal of the psychology side of soccer is to help other athletes and teams perform their best by improving mental skills that help us excel […]

Soccer is a Highly Contested Cut-throat Game

Many people hold a notion that soccer is a highly contested, cut-throat game. However, soccer has a great role in hosting competitions and being a mediator betweens nations at an international level (Kunczik, 2016). Football touches lives both on a regional and global scale. At times it inspires revolutions, but it also has the capability to create an everlasting peace and lift the participating nations. However, a blend of politics and soccer has significant and far-reaching implications on the international […]

Soccer and Goalies

Description In the game of soccer, the objective is to score as many goals as possible (more than the opposing team) by the end of the ninety-minutes in order to win the game. If there is a tie at the end of the ninety minutes, depending on the situation, the referee will either declare it a tie, add additional time (also known as stoppage time), or the game will go into penalty kicks. Components of the Field In terms of […]

Soccer as the most Famous Sport

Soccer is known to be the most famous sport in the world. In soccer there is 2 teams with 11 players. Soccer is played on a large grass field but you can also play indoor. The point of the game it to get the ball into the opposite team's goal. You can player soccer by only using your feet to dribble it and the goalie can only touch the ball. Soccer is played by all ages around the world for […]

Soccer in the US

Football is the king of sports, is the most popular and playable sport in the world. In the USA they play the same exact sport but with different name soccer, which is an acronym of the word Football Association. Although soccer was not very popular in 50's or 60's, in the 70's and 80's it gained some publicity from the creation of New York Cosmos and the arrival of some of the greatest soccer players of that time. In the […]

Major League Soccer

The United States has realized several impacts following the creation of the Major League Soccer (MLS) which was initially formed from an ownership model which was specifically a single-entity one. The ownership model acted as an antidote to the failing investments which were made in the history of professional soccer in North America. The creation of the MLS and its sustainability in the American sports culture is outstanding considering the competition it has been subjected to by other domestic sports […]

Playing Soccer

Panting as she dribbles the ball down the field, making sure the ball goes off the right part of her foot, and trying to figure out who is the best player to pass to make up the amazing sport of soccer. Soccer is a rewarding sport to play because it teaches coordination, increases cardiovascular health, and has cognitive benefits. Soccer uses the whole body, therefore, requires coordination from your eyes to the rest of your body. Cardiovascular health is increased […]

Twelve Thai Soccer Players

On June 23, twelve Thailand soccer players and their coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, went missing. The name of the soccer team was Wild Boars. The soccer team was from the northern part of Thailand. The soccer team got trapped in a cave that was half a mile below the surface and was prone to flooding. The twelve Thai soccer players were roughly around the ages of 14 and 16, with their coach being 25 years old. The situation in June 2018 […]

Soccer and Stock Markets

According to earlier studies, emotions are omnipresent. They have an essential effect on the individuals' behaviour and thus the decision making. Take for example the impact of anger on judgment and it's influence on cognition, and how the incidental anger in one situation can result in misattributed blame in another (Tedeschi and Quigley 1996). Again,According to Aristotle, "Anyone can become angry,that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for […]

Sizes of a Soccer Ball

Soccer Balls come in many different sizes. They also have different weight to all of them, but all soccer balls have one thing in common they all have air in them which allows the ball to be tough or soft. In the beginning it will fly exactly in the direction of the kick, as it slows down due to the friction of the air. The spinning motion will cause the air on one side to move faster than the other […]

Stock Market and Soccer

The interest in the role of sentiment, mood, feelings and emotions in finance and business stems from the work of (Kahneman and Tversky, 1979). Results in this area was built on evidence from experimental psychology and economics and studies to explore how investors are affected in light of information's evaluation, risk, gains. The applying the direct and the indirect measurement on the sentiment and feelings of the investors as an attempt to discover its role on the performance of stock […]

Soccer and Stock Market

When reviewing previous papers, we can touch the remarkable role of emotions that would suggest alternative courses of action affecting behavior of individuals and thus the decision-making, As a simple example the incidental anger happening in one situation will elicits automatically a motive to blame individuals in other situations even though the targets of such anger have nothing to do with the source of the anger (Tedeschi & Quigley 1996), and that typically occurs without awareness, as if Emotions play […]

The Global Reach of Soccer Viewership

Soccer, known as football outside of North America, is undeniably the world's most popular sport. Its appeal transcends geographical, cultural, and socio-economic boundaries, captivating millions across the globe. The question of how many people watch soccer is both intriguing and complex, reflecting the sport's vast reach and its profound impact on societies worldwide. The sheer scale of soccer's viewership is staggering. According to FIFA, the sport's global governing body, over half of the world's population watched some part of the […]

Kicking it at Angelo’s Soccer Corner: more than Just a Store

Nestled within the core of the local soccer community lies Angelo's Soccer Corner, an oasis for devotees of the beautiful game. Far beyond a mere emporium, Angelo's has evolved into a vibrant nucleus for players, enthusiasts, and families, embodying the fervor and ardor that soccer evokes universally. This discourse delves into the distinctive role Angelo's Soccer Corner assumes in nurturing the local soccer milieu, fostering a sense of camaraderie, and contributing to the sport's proliferation at its grassroots. From its […]

Neymar’s First Name: the Story Behind the Soccer Sensation

In the world of soccer, few names resonate as strongly as Neymar. He's a figure known globally, not just for his skill on the pitch but for his larger-than-life persona. However, many fans, even the most ardent ones, might pause when asked, "What is Neymar's first name?" It's a question that invites us to explore not just a name, but the story and the culture behind one of soccer's most iconic figures. Neymar's full name is Neymar da Silva Santos […]

Unraveling the Origins of Soccer: a Journey through History

Soccer, or football as it's known outside of North America, is more than just a game; it's a global phenomenon that captivates billions. But who can we thank for this ball-kicking frenzy? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. Tracing soccer's roots is like walking through a maze of history, culture, and evolution. Long before soccer became the sport we know today, ancient civilizations were already playing ball games. The Chinese game of 'cuju,' recorded during the Han […]

Kwame Appiah: a Philosopher’s Perspective on Soccer

When Kwame Appiah, a renowned philosopher, turns his attention to soccer, you know you're in for an insightful ride. It's not every day that a thinker of his caliber delves into the world of sports. Appiah, known for his work on cosmopolitanism and identity, brings a unique perspective to the game of soccer, a sport celebrated and loved by millions worldwide. His approach to soccer is not just about the game itself but also about what it represents in our […]

Additional Example Essays

• Basketball - Leading the Team to Glory
• The Rise of Baseball
• Benefits of Swimming
• Racism in Movie "42"
• Racism in Sports Essay
• 5 Reasons Why Athletes Are Overpaid: Analyzing the Overpayment
• Personal Philosophy of Leadership
• Reasons Why I Want to Study Abroad
• Socioautobiography Choices and Experiences Growing up
• Comparison Of Introverts VS Extroverts
• The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis
• Life Lessons from "Life is Sweet at Kumansenu": Embracing the Sweetness

Essay About Soccer U.S. Soccer, the governing body for the sport in America, pays the members of the men's and women's teams for international matches. The men's team earns higher wages in comparison to the women’s team. A perfect example of this case is when the women only earned $2 million the summer of 2015 for winning the World Cup while the men's team earned $9 million without advancing past the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup. Five of the women's players filed a federal complaint accusing the U.S. of discrimination of wages even with their revenue increase. The soccer world and others should care and be mindful of this because of the equal employment opportunities and the equal protection clause for both men and women. In the end, we are in search of equal opportunities for our future and for the little boys and girls who have dreams to succeed as well. U.S. Soccer may think they can get away with this because the majority of sports that pay their women players are always lower than the men's sports. There was a time where the women’s national soccer team was making more than the men's team. There will always be a controversy within the wage difference between men and women. At some point, there should be a solution and an agreement on how much everyone makes. “I won’t settle for less than equal pay”, Former National Women’s Soccer Goalie Hope Solo, said with strong words fighting for equal pay as a professional women’s soccer player. This has been a constant debate throughout time about equal pay between men and women in the professional sports industry. Many women argue that they do just as much as men do in their field. From training camps to similar training periods and even equivalent working conditions. Throughout this paper, we will touch on some major factors as to why women should get paid the same amount as men do. To begin, throughout the duration of a soccer player’s career they go through many different levels before becoming a professional. They typically come up in the youth academy programs and then they move into high school level, from here they normally select a college to attend and they can opt-out after their first year to enter the draft. From here, this is where we run into major issues with differentiating between both genders in this sport. Professional soccer players on the men's side of things tend to make on average about $60,000, and they can see upwards of up to $300,000 in wages per year. As for women soccer players they make on average about $30,000 and can get paid upwards of $80,000 a year. Almost a $220,000 drop off and the question is why? Women prepare just as hard, and the demand of the head coaches for Women soccer player doesn’t differ because of their gender. This is still an ongoing debate as to why women aren’t being paid the same as men. To continue on the requirements of both men and women, they both have a similar playing field as men do. They train on the same size field as men, play with the same size ball, and even run training sessions that are just as long. So why is there such a gap in the pay for women soccer compared to men? Well, many argue that the fanbase of men’s soccer game brings compared to that of a women’s soccer game explains why there is a pay gap. For example, the last world cup for both men and women respectively both had a large number of viewers. During the Men’s world cup final in 2014 over 3.2 billion viewers across the globe. As for the women they had over 40 million across the world. With the men’s soccer final seeing such a difference in views across the world, this is the argument as to why there is a pay gap between both genders in the sport. On the other hand, U.S. women's soccer is much more popular than that on the men's side. In fact, the last Women’s World Cup finals had over 23 million views across the U.S. This was the most-watched soccer game for both men’s and women’s in history. So, holding the argument that women are just as equal to men in soccer especially in the U.S. is a valid point. So why are we so off on paying women? If they are playing under equivalent working conditions, what’s stopping women from having more money. This argument has now been ongoing for decades, but when will we start to see changes in the current professional field of soccer? To continue, just to compare some numbers. In research constructed by a business insider, they compared the annual pay based on 20 games between both men and women. If a men’s soccer team lost all 20 games, they are expected to bring in at least $100,000 in pay, whereas if the women’s team lost all 20 games, they bring in approximately $72,000. In addition, if each team were to win 10 games both on the Men's and the Women's side, the men’s team would get a payout of up to $181, 660, whereas the Women would get up to $85,500. This is almost a $100,000 in pay difference for achieving the exact same number of wins. Lastly, if each team were to hypothetically win all 20 games, the men’s team payout would be up to $263,320, whereas, the women would get $99,000 if they accomplished the same. This is almost a $180,000 difference in pay according to a business insider. This means that even if the women’s team went 20-0 and the men’s team went 10-10, the men would still get paid almost twice as much as that of the women’s team. This is why many professional women soccer athletes are infuriated with the current pay and inequality in between the two and demand equal compensation. Another huge compensation gap is the world cup bonuses. This is one of the most surprising numbers between the two and the difference is unimaginable. For instance, if a men's team finished third in the world cup, they would receive $52.083 in bonuses, whereas if a women's team finished in the same place, they would receive less than half of that at about $20,000. An even more remarkable number is if the men’s team finished in second, they would be compensated for $260,417 according to business insider, whereas the women would receive just about $32,500 in bonuses. This is almost $230,000 more than that of women. The only difference between the two would be their gender. Lastly, a first-place finisher in the world cup would get over $390, 625 on the men’s side, whereas the women’s team would only get $75,000. Compared to the men, this is almost an offensive offer by FIFA when it comes to compensating their players for their work. This is not only an embarrassment for FIFA as an organization but for the sport and what they represent as a whole for the women’s teams. 

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Excellent essay writing blog for students seeking help with paper writing. We provide exclusive tips and ideas that can help create the best essay possible.

Thrilling Soccer Essay: Here’s Your Guide To Writing!

Discover how you can pen down a fascinating soccer essay in minutes! Get tips and a free essay sample to kick start your journey today cozily.

One of the most-watched sport in the world is soccer. Almost everybody is aligned to one soccer team or the other regardless of age, gender, or even occupation. My grandfather still supports Manchester United until now from his youth.

So what makes an essay about soccer as impressive as the sport itself? That is why you are here. Your thirst will be quenched in a few.

Outline of Soccer Essays

Before a soccer match begins, the referee gives the rules to the players to ensure that the game runs smoothly. That is what we want to look at, the structure of a soccer essay.

Introduction

Someone once said, show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are. I would rephrase the same, too, show me your intro, and I will tell you whether I will read your essay or not. What am I insinuating here?

The soccer essay introduction will have an impact on your readers. It will either ignite the readers or turn them off, just like the battery’s role in a car. Thus, the importance of soccer essay hooks, such as quotes from famous players.

Your thesis statement about soccer in the introduction should connect to the background information through a transition. Being the heart of the essay, it should, therefore, be manageable and researchable.

The body of an essay about soccer is composed of paragraphs supporting the thesis statement. It should, therefore, be concise to allow for easy readability.

The same logical connection to the thesis statement should follow in the body paragraphs. Their length varies depending on the assignment.

The 5-paragraph essay is, however, the standard recommended essay body length.

When concluding a soccer essay, try to act like the referee. Let the players know that the match has come to an end.

Briefly, let’s see some soccer essay topics that can get your piece a Wembley stadium audience.

Striking Soccer Essay Topics

• Benefits of playing soccer essay
• An essay on the history of soccer
• My passion is soccer essay
• My favorite sport is soccer essay
• Soccer as a unifying factor essay

Using one of the topics, we are going to explore a soccer essay sample for practice.

Sample of a Soccer Essay

Benefits of Playing Soccer Essay

“God gives gifts to everyone; some can write, some can dance. He gave me the skill to play football, and I am making the most of it.” A quote by Ronaldinho. Soccer is not a sport only but an oasis that quenches the thirsty hearts of many. Dating back to the Egyptians who used to play games involving kicking a ball, soccer has now spread like wildfire globally. Both men and women can now play this sport, not forgetting, the World Cup, help after every four years. It is indeed a sport that has come with great benefits not only to humanity but the whole planet at large.

Soccer has united people now more than ever. Initially, people would only mingle at a community or country level through their unique games and sports. However, soccer has broken these limits. Different people from all walks of life, race, gender, and age, and occupation, social, and political classes have come together. During the World Cup, this phenomenon is evident. Presidents, ordinary people can be seen on the stadium stands cheering their teams. What more could unite such classes than soccer?

The society has grown healthier as a result of soccer. Unhealthy eating habits have been a significant cause of diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. The cost of treating such conditions is expensive. Soccer provides a way of staying healthy, fit, durable, and ability to endure. One can join a community club or team and engage in vigorous soccer training. They have helped many to remain healthy and keep out of hospitals for years.

Generally, soccer is beneficial. The thoughts discussed may not be exhaustive, but the point is home. Everyone, both children and adults, blacks or whites, should embrace this excellent uniting and healthy sport. To have soccer is to score big!

Soccer Essay Made Simple

From the sample above, one can note that such an essay on soccer is as easy as getting pizza from McDonald’s. Its impact and role can be seen in everyday society and, therefore, easy to relate with at any stage of your writing. As always, the jargon should remain to create the context of your essay.

Are you thinking of scoring a soccer essay? The ball is in your court. Get it!

Do you need professional assistance on how to write an outstanding soccer essay? We have all you need. Contact us today.

Take a break from writing.

Top academic experts are here for you.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Essay on Soccer Game

Students are often asked to write an essay on Soccer Game in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Soccer Game

Introduction to soccer.

Soccer is a popular sport played worldwide. It involves two teams, each with 11 players. The game’s objective is to score more goals than the opposing team within a set time.

The Gameplay

Players move the ball across the field by striking it with any part of their body except their arms and hands. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.

The Importance of Soccer

Soccer is more than just a game. It teaches teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. It’s a fun way to stay active and make new friends.

250 Words Essay on Soccer Game

Introduction.

Soccer, also known as football in many parts of the world, is more than just a game; it’s a global phenomenon. Its simplicity, accessibility, and universal appeal make it the world’s most popular sport, transcending cultures, languages, and borders.

The Essence of the Game

Strategic complexity.

Despite its apparent simplicity, soccer is a complex game that requires strategic thinking. Coaches and players must constantly adapt their strategies based on the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, the current state of the game, and even the weather conditions.

Role of Teamwork

Teamwork is vital in soccer. Each player has a specific role, and the team’s success depends on how well these roles are executed. From the forwards who score goals to the defenders who protect their own goal and the goalkeeper who is the last line of defense, every player is important.

Soccer’s Global Impact

Soccer has a profound social and cultural impact. It brings people together, fosters a sense of community, and promotes values such as teamwork, discipline, and fair play. Major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup are watched by billions, demonstrating soccer’s unifying power.

In conclusion, soccer is more than just a game; it’s a strategic and social activity that promotes teamwork and unity. Its global popularity is testament to its universal appeal and its ability to transcend cultural and social barriers.

500 Words Essay on Soccer Game

The history and evolution of soccer.

Soccer, also known as football in many parts of the world, is a sport that has existed in various forms for over two millennia. The modern game we recognize today was formalized in England in the mid-19th century, but its roots trace back to ancient civilizations like China, Greece, and Rome. The universal appeal of soccer lies in its simplicity, requiring only a ball, a field, and two teams ready to compete.

The Rules and Structure of the Game

Strategy and tactics in soccer.

Soccer is not just a physical game but a cerebral one as well. Teams employ various strategic formations, like the 4-4-2, 4-3-3, or the 3-5-2, to maximize their strengths and exploit the opposition’s weaknesses. Tactics can vary from fast, direct play to a slower, possession-based approach. Managers and coaches play a pivotal role in devising these strategies, making soccer a fascinating blend of individual skill and collective strategy.

The Cultural Impact of Soccer

Soccer has a profound cultural impact worldwide. Major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup unite nations and create a sense of shared identity. Soccer clubs often reflect the character of their local communities, and players can become national heroes or symbols of cultural pride. The sport has also been a platform for social change, tackling issues like racism and inequality.

The Future of Soccer

In conclusion, soccer is a complex and vibrant sport that transcends beyond the boundaries of the playing field. Its simplicity, strategic depth, cultural significance, and promising future ensure its position as the world’s most popular sport. As we look forward, we can anticipate soccer continuing to evolve, captivate, and unite people across the globe.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The History of Soccer: How the Game Has Changed Over Time

The sport of soccer has been formed and shaped throughout its history into the modern-day version that we know and love today. Soccer has been around in different versions for hundreds of years and has a uniquely fascinating history.

In this article, I will take you through key moments in the history of soccer and show you how soccer developed into the global phenomenon we see today.

The history of soccer can trace its roots back almost 2000 years to ancient China. Since then, archaeologists have found evidence of early versions of soccer in records on every continent. But it was the British who transformed soccer into the game we play today when they formalized a set of rules in the 19th Century.

Since then, soccer has transcended borders, smoothed over differences, and united people around a common passion.

Soccer has played a central role in several major geopolitical events in modern history and even acted as a proxy battlefield upon which women’s rights have been won.

It’s a fascinating history, and I’m excited to share it with you! 

The Origins of Soccer

It has been estimated that over  half  of the world population tuned in to watch the last soccer World Cup. So, it is safe to say that people all around the world  love  soccer.

Football, as fans know the sport outside the United States , is quite possibly the most popular sport ever.

But how did it all start?

The history of soccer begins over 2,000 years ago in China, with a game known as Cuju. Historians believe Cuju to be the earliest version of soccer ever played.   Cuju  literally translates to “kickball,” and the game involved kicking a small leather ball into a small hole about 15 inches wide. 

The first record of Cuju dates back to about  255 BC  when the historical record of the Han Dynasty mentioned the game. Though some historians believe the game existed in ancient China much earlier, perhaps even as early as 5,000 BC. 

Cuju was also likely the first-ever version of soccer to spread internationally. According to other Han Dynasty records, a Cuju game was played between China and Japan in approximately  50 BC . 

You could argue that this was the first international soccer game.

Have a look at this video of a modern-day Cuju player.

Cuju isn’t the only contender for the first version of soccer in the history of the game.

Other ancient cultures  also played similar ball games. However, their rules often didn’t resemble modern soccer quite as closely as Tsu Chu does.  (For more information on the other countries that lay claim to the origins of soccer, have a look at my article – How soccer was invented .)

Early British Soccer

Although, Cuju in China can be regarded as a precursor to soccer as we know it today. There is no doubt that the British took the various versions of the game and shaped them into the sport we know today.

The earliest known version of British soccer is dated to the  8th Century , when British soldiers invented the game by kicking around the severed head of a Danish prince they had defeated in battle.

The news of this victory game spread throughout eastern England, and others began to replicate the brutal, violent game. It was not uncommon at the time for people to  die  playing soccer.

As a result, the King of England (King Edward III) decided to  pass a law  in 1331 banning soccer in England. By doing so, he hoped to bring an end to the deadly pastime. 

Of course, as anyone with a small child knows, banning something just adds to its attraction.

Consequently,  subsequent laws  were passed in 1424 and 1572 banning the sport in Scotland and mandating that anyone caught playing soccer would be sentenced to a week in jail. 

It would be almost 275 years before soccer became legalized again in England. 

Soccer in the New World Influences British Soccer

Around the same time soccer was re-legalized in England at the beginning of the 17th Century, British colonists were beginning to establish themselves in the “New World.”

When the colonists arrived in Jamestown, they observed the native people playing a kicking game called  Pasuckuakohowog . 

Based on colonist  Roger Williams’s descriptions , the locals played the game on the beach with goals set one mile apart. Up to 500 players played at a time, and while the game did often result in bodily injury, it was not meant to be as brutal as the English version. 

Some historians  believe that this game was played in place of war so that various groups could blow off steam without actually fighting each other. After the game, both teams would enjoy a feast together as a sign of friendship. 

It is possible that this slightly less violent version of soccer impressed the British as they seem to have incorporated some aspects of the  field construction  into modern soccer. 

However, they did shrink the playing field considerably . 

The Soccer Century

Modern soccer really kicked off  (pun intended)  in the 1800s when working-class communities discovered they could use the game to keep kids out of trouble and help maintain physical fitness.

Over the second half of the 19th Century, players and officials in England transformed the sport into its modern incarnation. 

The standardization of soccer truly began in  1815  with the establishment of a set of rules at Eton College. 

From that point in soccer history, a lot happened in a relatively short space of time: 

• In 1849,  a standardized set of rules was adopted by the colleges and universities of Britain. These rules are known as the  Cambridge Rules . 
• In 1857,  the  first league club  was established in Sheffield, England. Sheffield FC is still in existence today, and FIFA recognizes it as the world’s oldest soccer club. 
• In 1860,  TSV München  became the first organized soccer club in Germany; it would eventually become the basis for FC Bayern München, though TSV München 1860 still exists in Germany’s 3rd League. 
• In 1863,  The first American soccer league,  Oneida Football Club , was established in Boston, Massachusetts. 
• Also in 1863, the Football Association was formed in England on  October 26, 1863 ,  when eleven teams came together to agree upon rules and format. 
• In 1869,  the Football Association amended its  Laws of the Game  to include rules forbidding players from using their hands unless they were acting as a goalie.

The Football Association’s Influence on Modern Soccer

The formation of the Football Association in 1863 was instrumental in the development of modern soccer.

It set a precedent for how soccer would be organized and governed from then on. 

It also marked the moment when soccer and rugby became two separate sports. Up until that point, soccer had essentially been a combination of the two sports.

The Laws of the Game

Shortly after its establishment, the Football Association published the  first edition  of  Laws of the Game ,  which stipulated how the game should be played and included regulations that were intended to ensure the safety of soccer players. 

Examples of the safety “laws” included a rule outlawing the use of “projecting nails” on the bottom of a player’s shoes. Modern cleats had not yet been invented, so many players wore steel-toe boots instead. 

You can imagine how many broken bones that likely caused!

The International Football Association Board had  adopted  these laws by 1886, and FIFA also adopted the rules in 1904 . 

By the end of the 19th Century, soccer clubs from other countries began to join the Football Association.

The clubs that joined the Football Association were considered  association   clubs, and  games, or matches, played following the Football Association rules were  association matches . 

Today, the Football Association  manages the British Olympic soccer team . 

The 19th Century 

The establishment of the Football Association in 1863 was the biggest thing to happen to soccer during the “soccer century.”

A few more important things happened during these years that were significant moments in the history of soccer. 

• In 1871,  the Football Association held its  first Cup tournament . 
• In 1872,  the first international association match took place in  Glasgow  between the English and Scottish teams. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. 
• In 1884,  the  American Football Association  was established in Newark, NJ. 
• In 1886,  teams representing the US and Canada played the first international soccer game to take place in North America. 
• In 1888,  the Football Association included  penalty kicks  in the Laws of the Game. 
• Also, in 1888,  the English Football League was established. Today, it manages the English Premier and National League clubs. 
• In 1892,  the Scottish Football Association recorded the first all-women soccer match. 
• In 1895,  The  British Ladies’ Football Club  became the first known women’s soccer club.

In the span of a single century, soccer transformed from an ancient and sometimes brutal sport into a polite match enjoyed by the gentry and laboring classes alike.

In addition to transcending class divisions, soccer was also starting to transcend international borders. 

Soccer Becomes a Global Phenomenon 

At the beginning of the 20th Century, soccer was poised to quickly become a global phenomenon, and it did. 

Among the important developments that fostered the international spread of soccer was the establishment of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in 1904 . 

FIFA quickly became the premier governing body for international soccer clubs, games, and tournaments. Today, FIFA has 209 members and is feasibly the most illustrious sports organization in the world. 

Olympic Soccer History

The globalization of soccer accelerated rapidly after these first exhibition games were played.

1900 – France

France, Belgium, and England played the initial games at the  1900 Summer Olympics in France .

The top soccer clubs from each nation represented their country, and the games were intended to demonstrate the sport. Although historians recognize England as the champions, the Olympic officials didn’t award any medals to the teams.

1904 – United States

The  1904 Summer Olympics  hosted by the US in St. Louis was the first time soccer was officially included in the lineup of competitive events.

A total of four matches were played, and North American teams dominated. Canada, represented by the Galt Football Club, won gold. The US, represented by the Christian Brothers College and St. Rose Parish teams, won silver and bronze medals, respectively. 

1908 – Great Britain

It was not until the  1908 Olympics  that individual countries formed national teams for the competition.

This moment in soccer history is when FIFA officially began to oversee the games. To this day, FIFA refuses to recognize the 1900 and 1904 Olympic tournaments as “official” tournaments. 

Soccer on Boxing Day: Women Take to the Field

Women’s soccer became popular during the First World War.

The women had no official league, so they simply played games to raise money for wounded soldiers and help maintain national morale. 

To keep up a longstanding British tradition of watching soccer on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas day) , women rose to fill in the gap left behind by the men at war.

On December 26, 1917 , a women’s club from Ireland matched up with a lady’s club from England on a pitch in Belfast. Over 20,000 people came to watch, making it a wildly underrated international soccer success. 

It was such a popular game that the ladies decided to do it again in 1920.

The  1920 Boxing Day match  took place in Liverpool between women’s teams from England and France. The game hosted 53,000 soccer fans, while another 14,000 watched from outside the stadium. The most successful women’s club in England, the Dick Kerr Ladies Club, prevailed. 

By the end of WWI, women’s soccer teams were drawing larger crowds than men’s events. But this success was not allowed to last long. 

The Ban of Women’s Soccer 

Upon the return of men’s soccer events after the war, the Football Association  banned women  from using their pitches . They  justified this decision  by stating, “the game of soccer is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.”  

In retaliation, the women formed the  English Ladies Football Association  and started using Rugby pitches/fields as well. 

1930 – The First Soccer World Cup

In 1932, Soccer was dropped from the Summer Olympics itinerary in Los Angeles due to budget concerns arising from the Great Depression. Shortly before this happened,  FIFA decided to organize an international tournament in 1930 . 

It selected Uruguay to host the tournament due to the country’s recent back-to-back gold-medal wins at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics. 

The first World Cup was not well attended. Due to the economic depression gripping most of the world, some of Football’s powerhouses, including Germany, Italy, and Spain, were absent . 

The United States, on the other hand, performed better at the 1930 World Cup than it has at any subsequent World Club, despite being defeated by Argentina in the semi-finals. 

On July 30, 1930, the final match drew a crowd of 93,000, who watched as Uruguay and Argentina hashed out a close game. In the end, Uruguay won the first-ever World Cup 4-2. 

Soccer Becomes Geopolitical  

When Berlin hosted the  1936 Summer Olympics , soccer was no longer  just  a well-loved sport; it was becoming influential in a geopolitical sense. That power was palpable leading up to the Berlin Games. 

Using Soccer to Make Money

Germany, the host of the 1936 Olympic Games, had made sure that soccer would be included in the itinerary because they knew that its popularity equated to packed stadiums, which, of course, meant more money.

But people were  threatening to boycott the games  in reaction to the political reality in Germany at the time.

However, the economic power of soccer was so undeniable that the German authorities temporarily removed all propaganda that would have been visible to Olympic visitors.

However, it wasn’t that easy to fool the people. 

During the tournament, the participants lodged all nature of snubs at the hosts. The British players, for example, disobeyed instructions to give the salute before their matches . 

Then Germany was defeated by Norway in a shocking  2-0 victory  in front of the top German officials.

After being kicked out by the underdog, the Germans turned their hopes to Austria, a nation with a similar political drive. But they were sanctimoniously  beaten by Italy in the final match . 

The Berlin Games were undoubtedly  not  the propaganda stunt the Germans had hoped for. Still, they were among the first examples of how countries would come to wield soccer as a power play on the geopolitical stage. 

Soccer During World War Two

During the Second World War, people continued to use soccer as a morale booster and a geopolitical device.

Though the Football Association  suspended organized soccer matches  in September of 1939, the armed forces did rely on soccer to help the war efforts. 

The armed forces permitted soccer matches to help soldiers blow off steam and stay in shape during the quiet parts of the war. 

Footballers and the War Efforts

Many famous British soccer players played an active role in recruitment for the military. Before the suspension of official games, the  Bolton Wanderers’ team Captain , Harry Goslin, gave an impassioned speech encouraging people to join the military. 

The next day, all of the members of the Bolton Wanderers joined the Royal Artillery. 

Throughout the war,  80 British players  died in combat, including Harry Goslin. Several hundred more were injured or taken prisoner by enemy forces. 

Exhibition Matches

The armed forces also relied on professional soccer players to put on  exhibition matches  designed to increase international comradery among the Allied Forces.

The Football Association Services XI was a special assignment explicitly designed for these purposes. 

In 1944, the FA Services XI were sent to both Paris and Brussels to play exhibition matches.

The match against the Belgian team took place so soon after the Liberation of Belgium that the stadium had to be cleared of mines before the audience arrived. 

These games, no matter how frivolous they might have seemed, played an important geopolitical role.

They were celebrations meant to encourage Allied troops to keep going and keep up the good work. They were also meant as snubs to the Axis powers. 

Women Rise Again

Following the cancelation of men’s soccer for the duration of the Second World War, women once again stepped onto the fields to help boost national morale and raise money for the war efforts. 

This time, since women were entering the workforce to support the war industry, factories became the organizing body for women’s soccer teams. 

Multiple aviation companies  in the United Kingdom had women’s teams, and they engaged in friendly matches. 

However, the Football Association still banned women from using fields, so these matches were necessarily a bit more informal than the women’s WWI games. 

Soccer Around the Middle of the Twentieth Century

During the Cold War, soccer’s role as a geopolitical prop became a little more pronounced.

Soccer teams fought a number of battles between communism and capitalism on the field. Both sides were keenly aware that soccer was just one more way to prove their supremacy. 

The Red Army Football Team

In 1945, the Dynamo Soccer Team, based in Moscow, took off for a  goodwill tour  of the United Kingdom.

According to historian Robert Edelman, this trip was the Soviet Union’s first attempt to use sports for diplomatic purposes. 

In addition to later victories at the Olympics, the success of this trip made soccer Stalin’s favorite diplomatic tool and the most popular game in the USSR. The trend caught on in other Soviet states. 

The goal was to distract from human rights violations and spread propaganda about the dominance of Soviet athletes, both at home and abroad.

Leaders in the Soviet Union seemed to think that the presence of accomplished sports teams would disprove accusations of glaring inequities within their societies from abroad while instilling a sense of pride within their citizens. 

This approach was also attempted in the Soviet-aligned German Democratic Republic (GDR/DDR), otherwise known as East Germany. 

East vs. West: The Divide German Soccer Team

In 1951, the GDR established  the German Football Association of the GDR  and applied for FIFA membership. Naturally, West Germany protested this, but FIFA granted the GDR membership anyway. 

The two German teams would rarely face each other more than a few times before reunification in 1990. Still, each of these games was hard-fought due to a natural rivalry between the two Germanys.

The fact that many people saw Germany as the battleground of the Cold War gave this rivalry a unique intensity.

The East German national team was hardly as successful as their West German counterpart. Still, they did have a few notable successes at the Olympics. 

Notably, in 1964, the East beat the West and qualified for participation in the Summer Olympics hosted by Tokyo, where they went on to earn a bronze medal. They eventually secured a Gold medal in Montreal in 1976

During their 38-year existence, they only qualified for a  single World Cup  in 1974.

Incidentally, East Germany beat West Germany in the first round 1-0. However, the West German team went on to win all the other games in their group and the title.

Needless to say, this fueled the politically charged rivalry even more.

When Germany was reunified in 1990, the East German team dissolved. 

Chicago Sting v. Cuba

In 1978, just sixteen years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Chicago Sting, a professional US league team affiliated with the North American Soccer League, traveled to Cuba to play a friendly match in Havana at the  Pedro Marrero Stadium . 

The trip was extraordinary for a  few reasons :

• It came out of the blue . The authorities sprung the trip on the team. With little time to prepare for the trip, the team had little idea what they were getting into or how to prepare for a diplomatic sporting event. 
• Cuba was unfamiliar and uncertain . It was the first time an American sports team had visited Cuba since 1959, when the Rochester Red Wings (a baseball team) were chased out of the country after the team was shot at during the game.
• Ulterior motives ? What the team experienced was nothing short of a propaganda trip. Cuba hosted the team in a hotel that had been a Sheraton before the embargo and taken on a bus tour of the island. One team member remembers being told not to speak negatively about Cuba while on the tour because the buses were bugged. Another  reported  spotting a missile from his hotel window. 

The Sting lost 2-0, and the Cubans returned to Chicago a year later, drawing a much smaller crowd.

Despite this event’s historical significance, the US media did not report the match in Cuba or the return game. Still, the US government must have had a vested interest in the trip since they allowed it to happen in the first place. 

Women Soccer Players Get Their Chance

In 1971,  the ban  on women’s soccer that the Football Association had put into place in England way back in 1921 was finally lifted.

The Woman’s Football Association (WFA), established in 1969, was formally recognized in the United Kingdom. 

Across the Ocean, Title IX of the Civil Rights Act passed in 1972 similarly freed up women in the United States and mandated that equal funding be given to women’s sports at colleges and universities.

As a result, more women could go to college with a soccer scholarship in the United States. It quickly became the most common women’s sport at American Universities.

The 1990s Brought Women’s Teams to the Olympics

Despite these advancements in the Cold War era, it would not be until the 1990s that women would get equal footing in FIFA’s eyes. 

• After years of advocating for themselves, women everywhere were rewarded when FIFA held the first  World Championship for Women’s Football  in 1991. China hosted the event, and the United States took home the title. 
• Five years later, in 1996, FIFA allowed Women’s soccer to be included in  the Summer Olympics, hosted in Atlanta, Georgia . The United States women’s team was once again victorious. In fact, the US Women’s team is significantly more successful than the Men’s national team.  

Since then, women soccer players have been leading advocates for pay equality in the US. 

Soccer is the Most Popular Sport in the World

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, over half of the world’s population tuned in to watch the final match of the last FIFA World Cup, bringing in over $4.6 billion. 

As one  commentator for the  Chicago Tribune  puts it, “Christianity, with more than 2 billion believers, ranks second among the major religions of the world. Soccer is first.”

It often seems that way!  

According to a  survey conducted 20 years ago , over 240 million people regularly play soccer worldwide. It is safe to say that number has kept up with population growth.

Hence, approximately 4% of the world’s population  plays  soccer. 

Based on trends in viewership and game attendance,  statisticians have estimated  that over 3.5 billion people could be considered fans of the sport. That’s over 46% of the global population. 

History of Significant Rules in Soccer

Throughout the history of soccer, the rules have developed and changed in line with the game’s development.

As in any sport, some rules are more influential than others.

In the table below, you will find a timeline of all the significant changes to the rules of soccer and the year that change took place.

From a simple game of kickball in 225 BC to a worldwide phenomenon with over two billion followers, soccer’s history is truly one that is fascinating to explore.

A sport that entrances people of all ages from around the world and has even held a place in military and political history can’t simply be called a “game.”

No one can deny that it is a global phenomenon, unparalleled in the richness of its history. 

To find out more about this incredible game, check out one of my previous articles:

• Soccer Positions: A Complete Guide
• The Rules of Soccer: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Get in Shape for Soccer

Ben Clayfield

Hi! My name's Ben. I've played, watched, read about, and enjoyed soccer throughout my life. I really enjoy finding out more about the game I love and sharing it with you all. Find out more about me here - Ben Clayfield

Recent Posts

What Is Tiki Taka In Soccer?

In soccer, few playing styles have garnered as much admiration and acclaim as "Tiki-Taka."  This mesmerizing and intricate approach to the beautiful game has redefined soccer and left an...

The Role of Sweeper In Soccer: An Overview

In the world of soccer, where every position plays a crucial role in shaping the outcome of a game, the sweeper is a fascinating and often misunderstood position. The term "sweeper" evokes images...

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Life Hobby

Soccer as My Hobby and How It Shapes My Life

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

• Punctuality
• Personality

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Essay On Football for Students and Children

500+ words essay on football.

Essay On Football- Football is a game that millions of people around the world play and love. It can be called a universal game because every small and big nation plays it.

Moreover, it’s a great relaxer, stress reliever, teacher of discipline and teamwork . Apart from that, it keeps the body and mind fit and healthy. It’s a team game that makes it a more enjoyable game as it teaches people the importance of sportsmanship. Leadership, and unity .

History of Football

The history of football can be traced back to the ancient times of the Greeks. Everyone knows that the Greeks were great sportsmen and have invented many games.

Football happens to one of them. A similar game like football is played in many countries but the latest version of football that we knew originates in England. Likewise, England formulated the first rule of the game. From that day onwards the football has progressed in ways we can’t imagine.

Importance of Football

Football is an important game from the point of view of the spectator as well as the player. This 90 minutes game is full of excitement and thrill.

Moreover, it keeps the player mentally and physically healthy, and disciplined. And this ninety-minute game tests their sportsmanship, patience, and tolerance.

Besides, all this you make new friends and develop your talent. Above all, it’s a global game that promotes peace among countries.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

How to Learn Football

Learning any game is not an easy task. It requires dedication and hard work. Besides, all this the sport test your patience and insistence towards it. Moreover, with every new skill that you learn your game also improves. Above all, learning is a never-ending process so to learn football you have to be paying attention to every minute details that you forget to count or missed.

Football in India

If we look at the scenarios of a few years back then we can say that football was not a popular game in except West Bengal. Also, Indians do not take much interest in playing football. Likewise, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has some limited resources and limited support from the government.

But, now the scenario has completely changed. At this time football matches the level of cricket in the country. Apart from that, the country organizes various football tournaments every year.

Above all, due to the unpopularity of football people do not know that we have under-17 and under-23, as well as a football team.

Football Tournaments

The biggest tournament of Football is the FIFA world cup which occurs every 4 years. Apart from that, there are various other tournaments like UEFA cup, Asian Cup (AFC), African completions (CAF) and many more.

To conclude, we can say that football is very interesting that with every minute takes the viewer’s breath away. Besides, you can’t predict what’s going to happen the next second or minute in football. Apart from all this football keeps the one playing it fit and healthy. Above all, it can be a medium of spreading the message of peace in the world as it is a global game.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What are soccer and rugby?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Soccer is another name of the world-famous game Football. While on the other hand, rugby is an American version of Football in which they carry the rugby ball in their hands.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Is football a dangerous or safe game?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”:”For school students and youngsters it’s a much safer game as compared to professionals. Because professionals can suffer from injuries and can cost them their careers. But overall football is a dangerous game.”} }] }

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

• Undergraduate
• High School
• Architecture
• American History
• Asian History
• Antique Literature
• American Literature
• Asian Literature
• Classic English Literature
• World Literature
• Creative Writing
• Linguistics
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Issues
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Political Science
• World Affairs
• African-American Studies
• East European Studies
• Latin-American Studies
• Native-American Studies
• West European Studies
• Family and Consumer Science
• Social Issues
• Women and Gender Studies
• Social Work
• Natural Sciences
• Pharmacology
• Earth science
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Studies
• Computer Science
• IT Management
• Mathematics
• Investments
• Engineering and Technology
• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Medicine and Health
• Alternative Medicine
• Communications and Media
• Advertising
• Communication Strategies
• Public Relations
• Educational Theories
• Teacher's Career
• Chicago/Turabian
• Company Analysis
• Education Theories
• Shakespeare
• Canadian Studies
• Food Safety
• Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather Condition
• Movie Review
• Admission Essay
• Annotated Bibliography
• Application Essay
• Article Critique
• Article Review
• Article Writing
• Book Review
• Business Plan
• Business Proposal
• Capstone Project
• Cover Letter
• Creative Essay
• Dissertation
• Dissertation - Abstract
• Dissertation - Conclusion
• Dissertation - Discussion
• Dissertation - Hypothesis
• Dissertation - Introduction
• Dissertation - Literature
• Dissertation - Methodology
• Dissertation - Results
• GCSE Coursework
• Grant Proposal
• Marketing Plan
• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Personal Statement
• Power Point Presentation
• Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes
• Questionnaire
• Reaction Paper

Research Paper

• Research Proposal
• SWOT analysis
• Thesis Paper
• Online Quiz
• Literature Review
• Movie Analysis
• Statistics problem
• Math Problem
• All papers examples
• How It Works
• Money Back Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• We Are Hiring

A Story of Being a Soccer Player, Essay Example

Pages: 8

Words: 2327

Hire a Writer for Custom Essay

Use 10% Off Discount: "custom10" in 1 Click 👇

You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

Two years ago, soccer was not just a hobby it was like my girlfriend, my love . By the way, I have many favorite hobbies , but my top favorite of all of these is soccer. I was a little bit rebellious when I was young, and I was playing soccer everywhere like inside the house and in the street. I always bothered my neighbors, and they got mad at me and they were hollering at my family everyday about that, there was nothing on their minds except talking how my playing soccer annoyed them .

I have a basement in my house , and I was playing soccer down there . While I was playing with my brother and my sister, I broke one of my mother’s expensive masterpieces that she loved . She got upset about that , she then took me outside and she told me, “ go play soccer or bounce your ball out here , you’ve already broke one of my valuables, I don’t need you breaking anything else . The following day , she talked with her friend concerning my issue .

Fortunately, my mother’s friend’s husband is a soccer coach on the Yarmok team that is in my home country of Kuwait . My mom told her that I am interested in playing soccer for a team ; my mom’s friend said she would talk to her husband about me to see if I can be the new player to join his team .

After that, my mom talked with me about joining the Yarmok team; it made me think that I should be more assiduous in my schoolwork because I am not doing as well in school as I am in soccer.

I went to her husband and eventually he tested my skills along with those of some of the new players in order to choose the player with ability that has the potential to be the star player of the team, the coach gained a tremendous amount of satisfaction watching us .

I have been playing on that team for a long time and I am set to play in the match between my team and one of the best teams in Kuwait.

This particular match will begin in two months ; I was thinking to myself in that moment this was a great opportunity to prove myself in front of everybody especially the Kuwait soccer association.

I was practicing with my team and our coach gave us many exercises that he thought would be useful for us to know before the match. My concentration was mainly on the team ; my position on the soccer field is the striker . My soccer skills ultimately earned me my place on the soccer field; my coach’s play-by-play was set up in a way that my plausible position was to be the striker .

By the way, my team was the weakest team in Kuwait . I was looking forward to joining what I thought was one of the most excellent, and famous teams in my country as well as in the world . By winning the match, it would get the attention of the Kuwait soccer association or the team that we were going to be competing against .

They would get a chance to see my ability on the field and see how well I played not to mention seeing me playing as good as every famous soccer player in the world. That was what my desire was about all along ; I wanted my team to be the winning team in every match. When I talked with my coach about that, he told me that I am going to have to attend the training everyday and not miss one day except Saturday and Sunday because obviously there is no practice on the weekend . I listened to him very carefully about what he said in order to follow his instructions; the day of the competition was right around the corner.

The most challenging day of my life is about to begin and it is the day that everybody has been waiting for, both teams were eager as well . Most of the audience believed that the opposing team would defeat us as easily as they did the other weak teams, but we were going to play this team and I was going to show everybody that I am different from my team in order to be recruited by a better team or even the strongest team in the league .

Well, all the players were prepared to play despite the fact that there was another player on my team who was absent because he was sick at that time . A benched player had the confidence to play in this match . Everyone was getting ready for the warm up which all the teams had to do before any match to avoid injuries and to be even more active, forceful, and energetic in the match.

What my desire was about was not only winning the match, it was also about joining the Kuwait national team that I have always wanted. Actually, this team is the perfect team that I was looking to join .

The match just started with the long sound of the whistle, the stadium was full of people and my family were there too. Therefore, that motivated me even more to play my best, and this is what got me into the game .

I was playing my best to display my skills and to get everyone’s attention . Toward the end of the game, a player was nasty to me in the last additional 6 minutes . The player pushed me in a forceful way so as to keep me from not being able to finish the game with my team ; he got a red card from referee.

Unfortunately, I got a serious injury and I could not finish the match. There was an ambulance with two physiotherapists; they took me out of the game and to the infirmary to try to treat my leg injury . They were initiating natural therapy in order to help me and they were telling me what they could do to end this temporary pain fast as possible because I told them I have to complete the last 6 minutes of the match .

They said, “We will do the best as we can to lessen the pain,” but they could not. Seriously, I was feeling the pain in my leg constantly ; I could not play but I was determined to continue . They sprayed my leg with anesthetic spray and that did not help either . Not being able to finish the game with my team upset me . The coach took me out of the game so my leg can heal. The coach told me to sit on the bench; I had no choice but to obey him.

My team won the game , and the score was 1-0, it was a great game . This game is one that I will never forget and it will be stuck in my head forever . It was a special moment in my life ; it will always be a wonderful reminder because the Kuwait national team chose me to be one of the new members and gave me the opportunity to get to know the new players on the team I am going to be playing with .

At that moment specifically, I could not believe what just happened. I was asking myself, was that real? Am I really one of the Kuwait national team players? In addition, they acknowledged me as the star player in the game, and we all got gold medals . I held the cup up in front of the audience, and my family was cheering me on by clapping. I achieved all of my goals that I have wanted to accomplish . My coach told me that I was really persevering, so that is the reason why I was able to achieve my goal . In addition, he told me that I am an ambitious player but I have to work hard, work diligently . My family was very excited about my team winning the match and I was the best player in the match but they were a little unhappy about the injury .

This is not a story about soccer. This is a story about learning what makes you special , I have gotten a lot of experience from what I did . I was not made aware that know that there was some risk of injury in this sport but I quickly found out after I was injured myself and I think every sport have a different kind of danger element that damage different parts of your body .

In this sport, the most vulnerable spot is your leg . The leg is a soccer player’s greatest asset; it is what gets the soccer player goals. After playing soccer for a long time, I got to see soccer from another angle.

I used to admire people who played soccer and playing soccer myself has led me down the path to many injuries but emotionally, that was entertaining for me because that is what I love and adore . If you have a favorite hobby in any kind of sport or anything you would be good at it, just know that there are risks of injury so if that does not bother you then go for it.

Another thing that this experience has taught me was that despite the fact that a person has a love or a favorite hobby, it is always important to pursue it with some enthusiasm. The experience will not just lead to a life with that hobby but the experience gained from that hobby will follow you throughout the rest of your life.

My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams no matter where they lead me, it makes me happy knowing that I got to live my dream and play soccer which, as I previously stated, is my favorite hobby of all time. It never ceases to amaze me how I was a boy obsessed with playing soccer for fun and I ended up playing soccer for a league team; the irony is practically impalpable.

Stuck with your Essay?

Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help!

Ethical Decision Making & Cases, Research Paper Example

Interrelationship Between Various Fields of Biology, Essay Example

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Plagiarism-free guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Secure checkout

Money back guarantee

Related Essay Samples & Examples

Voting as a civic responsibility, essay example.

Pages: 1

Words: 287

Utilitarianism and Its Applications, Essay Example

Words: 356

The Age-Related Changes of the Older Person, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 448

The Problems ESOL Teachers Face, Essay Example

Words: 2293

Should English Be the Primary Language? Essay Example

Pages: 4

Words: 999

The Term “Social Construction of Reality”, Essay Example

Words: 371

• Tournaments

Football history

Welcome to FootballHistory.org, a website about football history including competitions, teams and players.

The history of football (soccer)

Football (or soccer as the game is called in some parts of the world) has a long history. Football in its current form arose in England in the middle of the 19th century. But alternative versions of the game existed much earlier and are a part of the football history.

Early history and the precursors of football

The first known examples of a team game involving a ball, which was made out of a rock, occurred in old Mesoamerican cultures for over 3,000 years ago. It was by the Aztecs called Tchatali , although various versions of the game were spread over large regions. In some ritual occasions, the ball would symbolize the sun and the captain of the losing team would be sacrificed to the gods. A unique feature of the Mesoamerican ball game versions was a bouncing ball made of rubber – no other early culture had access to rubber. The first known ball game which also involved kicking took place In China in the 3rd and 2nd century BC under the name cuju . Cuju was played with a round ball (stitched leather with fur or feathers inside) on an area of a square. A modified form of this game later spread to Japan and was by the name of kemari practiced under ceremonial forms. Perhaps even older than cuju was Marn Gook , played by Aboriginal Australians and according to white emigrants in the 1800s, a ball game that primarily involving kicking. The ball was made by encased leaves or roots. The rules are mostly unknown, but as with many other early versions of the game, a chief feature seems to have been to keep the ball in the air. Other variety of ball games had been known from Ancient Greece. The ball was made by shreds of leather filled with hair (the first documents of balls filled with air are from the 7th century). Ball games had, however, a low status and was not included at the Panhellenic Games. In the Ancient Rome, games with balls were not included in the entertainment on the big arenas (amphitheaters), but occurred in exercises in the military by the name of Harpastum . It was the Roman culture that would bring football to the British island (Britannica). It is, however, uncertain in which degree the British people were influenced by this variety and in which degree they had developed their own variants.

The game of football takes its form

The most admitted story tells that the game was developed in England in the 12th century. In this century, games that resembled football were played on meadows and roads in England. Besides from kicks, the game involved also punches of the ball with the fist. This early form of football was also much more rough and violent than the modern way of playing. An important feature of the forerunners to football was that the games involved plenty of people and took place over large areas in towns (an equivalent was played in Florence from the 16th century where it was called Calcio ). The rampage of these games would cause damage on the town and sometimes death to the participants. These would be among the reasons for the proclamations against the game that finally was forbidden for several centuries. But the football-like games would return to the streets of London in the 17th century. It would be forbidden again in 1835, but at this stage the game had been established in the public schools.

It took, however, long time until the features of today’s football had been taken into practice. For a long time there was no clear distinction between football and rugby. There were also many variations concerning the size of the ball, the number of players and the length of a match.

The game was often played in schools and two of the predominant schools were Rugby and Eton. At Rugby the rules included the possibility to take up the ball with the hands and the game we today know as rugby has its origin from here. At Eton on the other hand the ball was played exclusively with the feet and this game can be seen as a close predecessor to the modern football. The game in Rugby was called “the running game” while the game in Eton was called “the dribbling game”.

An attempt to create proper rules for the game was done at a meeting in Cambridge in 1848, but a final solution to all questions of rules was not achieved. Another important event in the history of football came about in 1863 in London when the first Football association was formed in England. It was decided that carrying the ball with the hands wasn't allowed. The meeting also resulted in a standardization of the size and weight of the ball. A consequence of the London meeting was that the game was divided into two codes: association football and rugby. The game would, however, continue to develop for a long time and there was still much flexibility concerning the rules. For one thing, the number of players on the pitch could vary. Neither were uniforms used to distinguish the appearance of the teams. It was also common with players wearing caps – the header was yet to be a part of the game yet. Further reading: The development of football rules . Another important difference at this stage could be noticed between English and Scottish teams. Whereas the English teams preferred to run forward with the ball in a more rugby fashion, the Scottish chose to pass the ball between their players. It would be the Scottish approach that soon became predominant. The sport was at first an entertainment for the British working class. Unprecedented amounts of spectators, up to 30,000, would see the big matches in the late 19th century. The game would soon expand by British peoples who traveled to other parts of the world and as a result to the British colonization efforts. Especially in South America and India would the interest in football become big.

The first football clubs

Football clubs have existed since the 15th century, but unorganized and without official status. It is therefore hard to decide which the first football club was. Some historians suggest that it was the Foot-Ball Club formed 1824 in Edinburgh. Early clubs were often formed by former school students and the first of this kind was formed in Sheffield in 1855. The oldest among professional football clubs is the English club Notts County that was formed in 1862 and still exists today. An important step for the emergence of teams was the industrialization that led to larger groups of people meeting at places such as factories, pubs and churches. Football teams were established in the larger cities and the new railroads could bring them to other cities. In the beginning, football was dominated by public school teams, but later, teams consisting by workers would make up the majority. Another change was successively taking place when some clubs became willing to pay the best players to join their team. This would be the start of a long period of transition, not without friction, in which the game would develop to a professional level. The motivation behind paying players was not only to win more matches. In the 1880s the interest in the game has moved ahead to a level that tickets were sold to the matches. And finally, in 1885 professional football was legalized and three years later the Football League was established. During the first season, 12 clubs joined the league, but soon more clubs became interested and the competition would consequently expand into more divisions. For a long time, the British teams would be dominant. After some decades, clubs from Prague, Budapest and Sienna would be the primarily contenders to the British dominance. As with many things in history, women were for a long time excluded from participating in games. It was not before the late 19th century that women started to play football. The first official women's game took place in Inverness in 1888.

The first competitions

Twelve years later, in 1883, the first international tournament took place and included four national teams: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Football was for a long time a British phenomenon, but it gradually spread to other European countries. The first game that took place outside Europe occurred in Argentina in 1867, but it was foreign British workers who were involved and not Argentinean citizens.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in 1904 and a foundation act was signed by representatives from France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. England and the other British countries did not join FIFA from the start, they had invented the game and saw no reason to subordinate to an association. Still, they joined in the following year, but would not partake in the World Cup until 1950. Domestic leagues occurred in many countries. The first was, as already mentioned, the English Football League which was established in 1888. The leagues would by time expand by more divisions, which were based on team performance. In 1908 would football for the first time be included as an official sport in the Olympic Games. Until the first FIFA World Cup was played in 1930, the Olympic Games football tournament would rank as the most prestigious on a national level. Women's football was not added until 1996.

Black players

As in many other sports the white male was predominant for a long time. In football black players started being present relatively early and in comparison with, for example, tennis, football has traditionally been known as a sport with a mix of black and white players.

In Britain, Andrew Watson is known to be the first black player, and he played in the Scottish club Queen’s Park in the 1880s.

A game of passion

Already in the late 19th century, Goodison Park was built in England in purpose of hosting football games. In 1894, the FA Cup final between Notts County and Bolton Wanderers was attended by 37,000 people. A milestone in the development of football stadiums is the construction of Maracanã Stadium. In the year of 1950 the imposing stadium in Rio de Janeiro was ready for almost 200,000 people. No other sport has seen stadiums of that capacity built to host its games. There have been two different traditions of fan culture on the arenas: the British and the South American. The British fans adopted the tradition of singing, the repertoire was inspired from pub and working songs among other areas. The South Americans on the other hand would adopt the carnival style which included firecrackers and fireworks, and also the modern phenomena of Bengali fires. Fans in other countries have later adopted a mixture of these traditions.

The great modern competitions

No other sport event besides the Summer Olympic Games can today measure itself with the FIFA World Cup . The first edition of the FIFA World Cup was played in 1930 in Uruguay and has since then returned every fourth year (with two exceptions due to the Second World War). In 1991 the first World Cup for women was held in China and has since then also returned every fourth year. Today the biggest global tournament for clubs is the Champions League (played since 1992), the former European Cup (1955–1991).

Globalization of the biggest sport in the world

In the late 19th century, only a few national football teams existed; England and Scotland had the first active teams that played games against each other in the 1870s. Today there are 211 national associations included in the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the world governing body of the sport. Another proof of the globalization could be seen in the increase of nations participating in the World Cup qualifiers: from 32 in 1934 to over 200 in 2014. The world regions have been divided into six confederations: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Union des Associations Européennes de Football (UEFA), The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL). Football is definitely a global sport and without comparison the biggest in the world. A quote from David Goldblatt's book The Ball is Round present one answer:

It offers the spotlight for individual brilliance while relishing the defiance and heart of collective endeavor. It has staged tragedy and comedy, epic and pantomime, unsophisticated music hall and inaccessible experimental performances. It does imperious triumph, lucky escapes, impossible comebacks and stubborn stalemates. It captures the brilliance of unpredictability, the uncertainty of the human heart and human skill, of improvisation and chance.

The name of the game: football or soccer?

In most parts of the world, football is used as the name for the “chess of the green pitch”, the biggest sport in the world. In the United States and Canada, however, soccer is used instead as a distinction from American football. A more formal name sometimes used is association football, but in popular speech, it is either football or soccer.

More articles

› Formations and playing systems in football › The Evolution of Football Shoes › The football field and its dimensions › History of football stadiums › The name of football in various languages › Collection of links to other sites about football on the web

References: The National Encyclopedia History of Football: The Beautiful Game (2002 Documentary Series) The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football – David Goldblatt (2008) http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/the-game/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_football_clubs http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/history/ http://spartacus-educational.com/Fblack.htm http://spartacus-educational.com/Fstadiums.htm http://www.fifa.com/associations/ Image sources: Andrea Scoto – ItiIllustration da Francesco. Bertelli. Padua William Ralston (1848–1911) – Scanned from The Official History of The Football Association by Bryon Butler – Queen Ane Press Documentary film Alegria do Povo (1963)

Popular Articles

• Formations in football
• Abbreviations in football
• The development of football rules
• The football field and its dimensions
• Football clubs ordered after establishment
• Champions League
• Premier League history
• Football books

Famous Football Clubs

• Bayern Munich
• Borussia Dortmund
• Manchester City
• Manchester United
• Real Madrid
• River Plate

Famous National Teams

Famous football players.

• Bobby Charlton
• Johan Cruyff
• Franz Beckenbauer
• Diego Maradona
• Gerd Müller
• Michel Platini

• High School
• Boilermakers
• SportsbookWire

How Harrison soccer manager Aldo Robles overcame brain tumors and being cut from varsity

WEST LAFAYETTE — Senior manager Aldo "Aldino" Robles had his heart set on making the varsity soccer program at Harrison High School in 2023.

He not only loved the game but his positive attitude and energy made for a better atmosphere in practice.

"He always has this look on his face that is almost like a chagrin," Harrison soccer coach Bryan Clouse said. "He treats everyone he meets like his friend and its easy to see why the school loves him."

But Robles would have his high school soccer aspirations dashed that summer.

He was diagnosed with three non-germinomatous germ cell brain tumors on Aug. 30, 2023. The tumors, if left untreated, could spread and cause long term damage to other parts of his brain and spine.

Robles, who writes left handed, began to feel tingling in his left foot, hand and the left side of his body. He began to lose feeling on the left side of his body that July. His fingers were locking up whenever he tried jotting notes. Robles also lacked his usual crisp energy.

Subtle signs began to show like when Robles began doing common activities with his right hand instead of his dominant left, his mother Ana Ramirez said.

More: High school boys soccer watch list: top 50 players in Lafayette area

Despite the numbness and feelings of exhaustion, Robles was determined to push on and try out for the varsity.

Robles gave it his best but his coach would have to cut him and 15 other aspiring players.

Clouse didn't know Robles' condition at the time.

"That was one of the hardest things I had to do," said a tearful Clouse after Harrison played Ben Davis on Aug. 17. "Going up to him and knowing that I was about to crush this kid's dreams? He handled it with such class."

After tryouts, Robles told his father Luis about his condition. He was rushed into Arnett Hospital Emergency Medicine in Lafayette and was later transferred to Riley's Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.

Doctors later confirmed what his family feared.

"We were in shock," Luis Robles said.

Robles went from being cut by his favorite team to being diagnosed with life altering brain tumors — all in the same week.

"I can't imagine what Aldino was going through at the time," Clouse said. "To being cut and diagnosed with cancer and going through what he did......and yet he still kept smiling."

When asked why Robles didn't tell anyone about his condition during the summer?

"He told me he didn't want to miss out on playing soccer and trying out for the team," Ramirez said.

Robles couldn't attend high school in person after two weeks of attendance because of his condition. He underwent six rounds of chemotherapy which weakened his immune system and was forced to wear a mask.

He was forced to complete homework assignments and projects either at home or from a hospital bed. He still has to wear the mask.

"It was like being back during that period of COVID," Robles said. "It was the worst."

He battled the long lasting side effects of chemotherapy and was constantly nauseous.

But he never fell into a state of despair thanks to visits he received in the hospital or his home from players, coaches and even his own teachers.

"Every time the team visited it helped my mood," Robles said. "They were there for me and helped bring back the old Aldo."

As the news of Robles' condition spread, the outpour of support grew. Not just from within the community in Lafayette and West Lafayette. His story inspired the soccer communities of Indianapolis and Carmel.

Outpour of support from Indiana soccer community

Robles was in and out of the hospital for several months and received chemotherapy to treat and eliminate the tumors inside of his brain.

When Robles was in a hospital bed, 2023 Journal & Courier Boys Soccer Player of the Year Joey Scheumann bought his friend a Playstation 5.

Team members, coaches and teachers visited Robles during his recovery.

"Aldo is the heart of our team and he didn't give up," Harrison forward Jonny Escobedo said. "We didn't give up and we take that with us at every single game and practice. We don't give up, we keep going and it all comes back to Aldo."

More: Lafayette area high school sports to watch (Aug. 19 - 24)

Robles' family got a major boost financially when Harrison and Carmel came together for a game and asked for donations for the beloved Raider.

Fans and coaches from both sides took donations to help offset the costs of travel, meal and other bills the family endured while Robles went to Indianapolis to receive his chemotherapy.

In one night, both teams managed to raise $8,000 and presented the backpack full of cash to Robles' family at their West Lafayette home after the match.

"(Harrison) has always been supportive of him," Ramirez said. "To see what happened and what's been given in return, it's hard to explain."

Beating the tumors

Robles rang the bell at Riley's Children's Hospital on July 23, symbolizing that he was tumor free.

He is back on the field and ended up making the varsity team after all. Robles keeps stats during varsity, junior varsity games, assists with equipment and passes out water to his teammates. Robles even has his own poster next to the players, holding a soccer ball with fire going through his hands.

He has taken to coaching players from the sideline and encourages his teammates to "Bring it home baby," a catchphrase he's become synonymous with at Harrison.

More: Who has your vote for 2024 Journal & Courier Preseason Girls Soccer Player of the Year?

"He's like my little shadow," Clouse said. "I can't ever be mad at him."

The road to recovery isn't over for Robles. He is undergoing physical therapy from the partial paralysis that occurred when the tumors first took their hold last summer and the atrophy he faced while recovering from chemotherapy.

Getting treatment in Indianapolis allowed Robles to find a new passion. He wants to become a child life specialist, a counselor for students who are battling serious illnesses.

"I want to be there for kids," Robles said. "I've seen how hard it is when you're in that situation and you feel helpless. And I want to uplift them and encourage them. Let them know they can do it and cheer them on."

Robles also wants to regain the strength he once had and become a soccer player once more.

"I believe I can do it," Robles said.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected] , on Twitter at  EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson .

Atlético Madrid complete protracted Conor Gallagher transfer

Ian Darke breaks down how he thinks Chelsea signing João Félix will fare in the coming seasons. (1:11)

Atlético Madrid have completed the signing of midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea in a deal worth around €40 million ($44m), the LaLiga side announced on Wednesday.

The transfer had looked in jeopardy after Atlético forward Samu Omorodion 's move in the opposite direction fell through .

Gallagher spent five days in Madrid earlier this month -- with Atlético confirming that he was at their Metropolitano Stadium, as his signing was being finalised -- but was forced to return to the UK after Omorodion's transfer collapsed.

After a week of talks, Chelsea agreed a deal to sign João Félix from Atlético instead, allowing Gallagher's transfer to be completed. He has signed a contract until 2029.

Gallagher said a personal goodbye to Chelsea in a post on social media.

He said: "To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true. It's been an absolute honour every time I put on the shirt, and it was a dream come true to captain the team on many occasions.

"I loved every moment. These memories will last forever. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans. Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed meant the world to me. Thank you for everything. I wish the club all the best for the future, and I hope to see you all soon at Stamford Bridge!"

Sources told ESPN that the England midfielder rejected a new contract offer to stay at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's last proposal to Gallagher was a two-year deal with an option for a third season and included a significant pay rise.

The 24-year-old had previously turned down a move to Aston Villa while Tottenham had also been monitoring his situation for several months.

Gallagher came through Chelsea's academy and established himself in the first team after a successful loan to Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 season.

He played 136 games in the Premier League, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists.

The LaLiga club presented its summer arrivals -- including Gallagher, and eight new signings for the women's team -- to thousands of fans at an event at the Metropolitano on Wednesday.

"I don't speak a lot of Spanish. I'm very happy," Gallagher told the crowd. "Come on Atleti!"

Atlético have had a busy summer in the transfer market, also signing defender Robin Le Normand and forwards Alexander Sorloth and Julián Álvarez .

Information from ESPN's James Olley, Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.

latest in US News

14-year-old boy’s teen killer was gunned down by FBI,...

Trio of thieves beat woman, steal her two pit bull puppies on NYC...

Dancing on his grave: Boomers boogie down at cringey DNC doo-wop...

'Healing garden' erected in memory of 4 slain University of Idaho...

US hostage Hersh Goldberg Polin's parents speak at DNC: 'Hersh,...

RFK-Trump alliance could be battleground boon

Transgender New Hampshire girl can rejoin her girls' soccer team,...

PBS correspondent apologizes for falsely telling live audience...

Transgender new hampshire girl can rejoin her girls’ soccer team, judge rules as new law is challenged.

A transgender teenage girl can rejoin her teammates on the soccer field — at least temporarily — after a federal judge ruled in favor of her challenge to a new New Hampshire state law that seeks to ban her from the girls’ team.

Parker Tirrell, 15, laced up her cleats for practice Monday evening after US District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty approved an emergency order filed by the teen’s parents seeking her right to join her teammates in time for the start of the season.

The families of Tirrell and 14-year-old Iris Turmelle filed a lawsuit Friday against New Hampshire’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” arguing that the legislation signed by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu last month is discriminatory under the Title IX amendment.

The new law states that student athletes’ eligibility to play on a girls’ or boy’s team is based on the sex listed on their birth certificates.

Tirrell had filed an emergency order to allow her to go to her soccer practice on Monday, while Turmelle’s sports season doesn’t begin until December.

Outside the emergency order ruling, the two teens and the state must find a date for a hearing in which the court will decide whether to block New Hampshire from enforcing the law while the lawsuit makes its way through the court system.

The teens’ families argue that the law violates Title IX, which protects people in the US from discrimination and exclusion on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation and/or gender identity in any education program or activity receiving federal money.

McCafferty questioned the applicability of the law’s argument given that Tirrell has no physiological or biological advantage over cis girls since she has taken puberty-blocking medication to prevent the development of male physique — like muscle development — that the law argues creates an unlevel playing field between cis and trans players.

The judge also ruled that the law — and Tirrell’s inability to go to the first practice alongside her teammates — would cause irreparable harm and thus approved the emergency filing.

The teen’s lawyer said the girl being sidelined from her team and the practice would have a “permanent, stigmatizing impact” on her.

“Sports has been a source of joy for [Tirrell] and has been the primary way she makes friends and experiences a sense of belonging and connection to others. Soccer is her real passion,” the suit states. “She played on the girls’ soccer team last year in ninth grade and is excited to rejoin her team when the season officially starts again on August 30, 2024.”

With Post wires

Advertisement

Dax McCarty announces retirement after 2024 season

• Share on Facebook

The 2024 season will be the last time soccer fans get the chance to see Dax McCarty on the pitch. The Atlanta United midfielder will close the chapter on his 19-year career in MLS, the veteran announced Monday on social media .

He followed up the announcement with a press conference at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on Tuesday morning, as he told reporters:

"I decided I'm good in my heart with where I'm at in my life and my career to move on to the next chapter and let the new, younger generation come through and replace me."

Having some time to reflect during the Leagues Cup break, he discussed the decision with his family. McCarty said that the decision felt "good in his heart" and that he always preferred to end his career on his own terms.

Once the decision was made, he described a "boulder" he felt training with teammates. So, he decided to have a conversation with the club to share the news and announce it publicly.

"I'm like milk, I have an expiration date," he said, "And I'm excited to enjoy the freedom that this decision brings me in the next couple of months."

When the season ends, McCarty will depart with one of the most legendary and sustained careers in MLS history. In Atlanta United’s match earlier this season on April 27 against Chicago Fire, one of McCarty's former clubs, McCarty made his 500th appearance in MLS. Only one other field player in league history has more appearances than McCarty, which places him right near the apex of MLS history-makers .

During his career, McCarty has played for a few franchises. He was drafted in the MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas and made his league debut in 2006. He followed that up with stints with New York Red Bulls, D.C. United, Chicago Fire and Nashville SC.

Notably, he was part of the inaugural roster for Nashville SC, an expansion club that began play in 2020. On the History of Atlanta Soccer Podcast , he recounted playing in the club's first-ever match -- which was against Atlanta United.

McCarty signed with Atlanta United as a free agent in January. The 2024 season will be his only in Atlanta, but the midfielder says the experience turned out to be what he expected.

"Great facilities, wonderful fan base, a ton of talented players, and a great city," he said.

On the pitch, McCarty still has that competitive fire. The 37-year-old is proud he's been available for every Atlanta United match this season. Heading into the August 24 match against L.A. Galaxy, McCarty has played more than 700 minutes this season, appearing in 15 regular season matches and starting eight.

His teammate Saba Lobjanidze challenged McCarty to play one more season if Atlanta United goes on to win the MLS Cup trophy this year. While McCarty wasn't sold on the part about him coming back for 2025, he certainly still has aspirations to chase this season.

"As disappointing as this year has been on the field with the results, we still have nine games left to make a run, to make the playoffs," McCarty said. "I've been around so long and seen so many teams sneak into the playoffs on a run of good form, winning three or four games in a row, getting into the playoffs, and they make a final or a semifinal and they win a championship. It can happen. I believe that, I really do. So, that's the plan."

• READ MORE on Dax McCarty in our Behind The Stripes feature story
• LISTEN to Dax McCarty's episode on the History of Atlanta Soccer podcast
• LISTEN to Major League Journeymen, a podcast co-hosted by Dax McCarty

It’s been a hell of a ride but it will be over soon. Thank you doesn’t even begin to do justice to all the people in my life who have helped me live my dream. My cup is full ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Cc2QkJy8qK — Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) August 19, 2024

Related Stories

Our next home match is September 14.

• View Tickets

Subscribe now to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV at 50% off.

• Subscribe Now

• High School
• SportsbookWire

Cumberland's girls soccer, the defending champs, looks even stronger this year; here's why

CUMBERLAND — Emma Kucal looks like herself again. 

The quickness. The sharpness. The confidence in front of the goal with the ball at her feet. It’s all on display this cool Tuesday morning at Tucker Field. 

The senior striker is back after an extended recovery from a serious left knee injury. Cumberland's girls soccer team enjoyed an unbeaten 2023 and captured a state championship without the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year. The Clippers will bid for a second straight with the best lineup addition any Interscholastic League program will make this fall. 

More: 10 players to keep an eye on this girls soccer season

More: Ready for high school football? The Journal's Sports staff is, as practices start today

“I never imagined that I would have to take a year off from playing the sport that I love,” Kucal said. “It was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Being back here with some of my best friends, it’s honestly the best feeling.” 

Her last appearance came in a 2022 quarterfinal playoff match against South Kingstown. The Clippers stormed to a 5-0 win and were just 80 minutes from reaching their third title round since 2015. Kucal didn’t make it through training the day before a scheduled grudge match with La Salle, and the torn ACL she suffered put her at the start of an unexpected road. 

“The semifinal game was devastating,” Kucal said of the 1-0 defeat to the Rams. “I was watching my team out there wishing I could do anything to help. But you can’t go back in time.” 

Kucal was medically cleared to return midway through last year, but something still didn’t feel right. Her doctors and physical therapists agreed her body was ready, but Kucal’s mind wasn’t in a place that allowed her to fully commit. That doubt was the final hurdle that couldn’t easily be overcome, and Cumberland — with Nicole Calle taking over the starring role up front — rallied past Mt. Hope, 3-1, to lift its first trophy in 20 years .  

“The players who made up the team last year were incredible,” Kucal said. “Their chemistry was incredible. Not that I’m saying me coming back would have changed anything, good or bad, but I didn’t want to mess up their chemistry in any way.  

“I believed in them the entire time just like I believe in this team this season.” 

Kucal eased back into playing during her club season with the Rhode Island Surf. Winter gave way to spring, and suddenly the player who terrorized opposing defenses through two years with the Clippers reappeared. Kucal came into this week primed for her final high school campaign and fresh off a summer commitment to the University of New Hampshire. 

“There are definitely those ups and downs,” Kucal said. “Mentally, it’s tough. You can’t play the sport you love. You’re doubting yourself.  

“Am I going to be the same player I was when I come back? Luckily I had so many people to help me get through that time.” 

Kucal is part of a strong senior class that includes All-State defender Sofia Torres and veteran goalkeeper Payton Goulding. It will be Kucal's first time playing with sophomore striker Paynter Maher, who looks like a future Cumberland star. Dealing with the Huskies, North Kingstown, La Salle and the other expected contenders at the state’s top level is a test Kucal can’t wait to tackle over the next three months. 

“I think other teams will take that and go harder,” Kucal said. “That will be challenging. But I think our team will handle that well.” 

[email protected]

On X: @BillKoch25 

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce From Ben Affleck

The A-list couple, who married in 2022, had attempted to rekindle their romance after close to two decades.

By Callie Holtermann

Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck on Tuesday after two years of marriage, capping a decades-long romantic history that spawned its own famous portmanteau: “Bennifer.”

Ms. Lopez filed the petition to dissolve the couple’s marriage to the L.A. County Superior Court, according to court records. The filing, which was first reported by TMZ, was submitted on the second anniversary of the couple’s lavish wedding celebration at Mr. Affleck’s home in Georgia.

Representatives for Ms. Lopez and Mr. Affleck did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The on-again, off-again relationship between Ms. Lopez, 55, a singer and actress, and Mr. Affleck, 52, an actor and director, has been a subject of pop-culture fascination since the early 2000s.

The pair began dating while filming the 2003 romantic comedy “Gigli.” Although the movie was panned , the relationship between its stars became “the summer’s most watched romance,” according to an article that year in The New York Times. They got engaged in 2002, but postponed the wedding the following year, citing the media frenzy around their union.

The pair split and moved onto other relationships: Ms. Lopez married the singer Marc Anthony in 2004, and Mr. Affleck married the actress Jennifer Garner in 2005. (Both ended in divorce.)

In the spring of 2021, tabloids lit up with headlines that Ms. Lopez and Mr. Affleck were dating again. In July 2022, the superstars were wed at a midnight ceremony in Las Vegas, complete with a pink Cadillac convertible. They held a celebration with family and friends in Georgia in August, with Ms. Lopez wearing a Ralph Lauren gown and a sweeping veil.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .