Soccer, also known as football, is a popular sport played by millions of people worldwide. However, the origin of soccer can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where similar games were played using a ball and some form of goal. This article reviews five old games played before modern soccer was introduced. The American Indians … Read more
A 1986 World Cup semi-final was now uncharted territory for the Belgium national team. They were unfortunate to face an Argentina side on the verge of victory. In 1982, Belgium had beaten the then-holders 1-0 in the opening match of the World Cup, Belgium’s finest hour. Even though the 11 men wearing the red of … Read more
Boca Juniors’ fortress-like Estadio Bombonera has built a formidable reputation over the years, and with good reason. Few visiting teams have managed to take the spoils on the Xeneizes’ fabled home patch, located in an area to the south of Buenos Aires, where the fanatical supporters always form an imposing 12th man. Yet it was … Read more
Footbag games such as Hacky Sack involve kicking a small bag back and forth with friends. 1972 marked the beginning of the modern game. This article discusses the origin of the hacky sack from its ancient beginnings. Hacky Sack is a novel concept in which all body parts except your hands and arms are used … Read more
In 1996, FIFA proposed the controversial idea of increasing the size of football goals to boost the number of goals scored in matches. It was panned across the board as a poor idea, despite the plan having Sepp Blatter’s backing. You may also scoff at the notion, but it was genuinely a possibility following the … Read more
There have been 62 winners of the English Football League Cup (EFL Cup), a knockout competition in English football invented and organised by the English Football League. Making its debut in the 1960-61 season, the EFL Cup falls some way behind the Premier League and FA Cup in terms of prestige. Nevertheless, the competition offers … Read more
Southern California is known for world-class beaches, Disneyland, Hollywood, and exceptional athletes. The Lakers and Dodgers are certainly popular throughout the country, and many local college athletic departments have nationally ranked programs. But the impact of Southern California on women’s soccer has been felt throughout the world. SoCal soccer is on the rise! Many of … Read more
The match hero Mario Gotze, came off the bench to score the title goal in the very last minutes of the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina. Germany needed 113 minutes to earn the fourth World Cup title. Mario Götze came off the bench to become the German hero of the 2014 FIFA World Cup … Read more
It is an opportunity to pay tribute to those early founding fathers who, following on from the establishment of the rules of the game and the Football Association in 1863, saw the beginnings and the acceptance of professionalism in 1885 with the formation of the Football League in 1888 by business people keen to involve … Read more
The 1991 Women’s World Cup was the first international sanctioned tournament for women’s national teams. Held in China, the FIFA tournament set the stage for the continuous growth of women’s soccer. Twelve nations participated in the competition, with the United States emerging as champions in a thrilling finale, defeating Norway 2–1 in extra time. After … Read more
© 2026 History Of Soccer