The first recorded soccer game was likely played in 217 CE. It took place
in Derby, England, on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday) as part of
a celebration of a victory over Roman troops. By 1175, the Shrove Tuesday
soccer game was happening annually.
Over time, different forms of the game took shape in England, including a
particularly rough version in the Middle Ages that drew royal attempts to ban
it. Two games eventually became most popular—one consisted primarily of kicking
the ball, while the other (created at England’s Rugby School) allowed players
to carry the ball and tackle each other.
After the emergence of rugby in the 19th century, there arose a need to
differentiate the two sports, and thus The London Football Association was
born. The sport that focused primarily on kicking became known as “association
football” (a name that lives in on in the acronym FIFA).
Eventually, in some places, the name became “soccer,” based on the abbreviation
“assoc.” Yes, really.
What’s your
favorite soccer-related word?