Soccer

Soccer, known as football in most countries outside the United States and Canada, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end, and the objective is to score by getting a ball into the opposing team’s goal using any part of the body except the hands and arms (goalkeepers are allowed to use their hands within the penalty area). The game is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Soccer is one of the most popular sports globally and is recognized for its widespread fan base, with major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup drawing millions of viewers. The sport promotes teamwork, strategy, and physical fitness and has various forms at amateur and professional levels. Soccer can be played in different formats, including full-size games, small-sided games (like futsal), and beach soccer. It has a rich cultural significance in many countries and is often associated with national pride and identity. The game is characterized by its simplicity, requiring minimal equipment, which contributes to its accessibility and popularity worldwide.