Why Football Is Called Soccer

In most countries, the game where twenty two people chase a ball on a field is simply called football. But in the United States, Canada, and Australia, the same sport is known as soccer. At first glance, it might seem like an American invention, but the word actually originated in England.

In the nineteenth century, several ball games were played in Britain. In 1863, the English Football Association established the first official rules for association football, or football under the Association rules. At the same time, rugby, where the ball could be carried by hand, was also popular. To distinguish one sport from the other, British students began shortening the names. Rugby became “rugger,” and association football became “assoccer,” which over time evolved into “soccer.”

In England, the term did not catch on, as people quickly returned to the familiar “football.” However, the story developed differently outside the UK.

By the late nineteenth century, the United States had developed its own version of football, combining elements of rugby and the British game. It quickly became the country’s main sport. When it became necessary to distinguish the American version from the European game, Americans used the English word “soccer.” It was adopted by official organizations, sports leagues, and the media, and the term became firmly established.

A similar situation occurred in Canada, Ireland, and Australia. In all of these countries, there is a national favorite version of football that is not the same as the one we know. Therefore, the word “soccer” proved convenient, as it clearly separates one sport from another.