ssociation football, more commonly known as simply
football or soccer,[a] is a team sport played
with a spherical ball between two teams of 11 players. It is played by approximately 250 million
players in over 200 countries and dependencies, making it the world's most popular sport. The game
is played on a rectangular field called a pitch with a goal at each end. The object of the game is
to score more goals than the opposition by moving the ball beyond the goal line into the opposing
goal, usually within a time frame of 90 or more minutes.
Football is played in accordance with a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game. The ball is 68–
70 cm (27–28 in) in circumference and known as the football. The two teams compete to get the ball
into the other team's goal (between the posts and under the bar), thereby scoring a goal. Players are
not allowed to touch the ball with hands or arms while it is in play, except for the goalkeepers within
the penalty area. Players may use any other part of their body to strike or pass the ball, and mainly
use their feet. The team that scores more goals at the end of the game is the winner; if both teams
have scored an equal number of goals, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time or
a penalty shootout, depending on the format of the competition. Each team is led by a captain who
has only one official responsibility as mandated by the Laws of the Game: to represent their team in
the coin toss prior to kick-off or penalty kicks.[4]
Football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association
Football (FIFA; French: Fédération Internationale de Football Association), which organises World
Cups for men and women every four years.[5] The men's FIFA World Cup has taken place every four
years since 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 tournaments, which were cancelled due
to World War II. Approximately 190–200 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments within the
scope of continental confederations for a place in the finals. The finals tournament is held every four
years and involves 32 national teams competing over four weeks.[b] It is the most prestigious men's
football tournament in the world, and the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the
world, exceeding the Olympic Games. Similarly, the FIFA Women's World Cup has been played
every four years since 1991, though football has been played by women since it has existed. A
record-breaking 1.12 billion viewers watched the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.[6]
The most prestigious competitions in European club football are the UEFA Champions
League and UEFA Women's Champions League, which attract an extensive television audience
throughout the world. The final of the men's tournament has been, in recent years, the most-watched
annual sporting event in the world.[7] The top five European men's leagues are the Premier
League (England), La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), Serie A (Italy), and Ligue 1 (France).
Attracting most of the world's best players, each of the leagues has a total wage cost in excess of
£600 million/€763 million/US$1.185 billion.[8]
Contents
1Name
2History
o 2.1Women's association football
2.1.1Early women's football
2.1.220th and 21st century
3Gameplay
4Laws
o 4.1Players, equipment, and officials
o 4.2Ball
o 4.3Pitch
o 4.4Duration and tie-breaking methods
4.4.190-minute ordinary time
4.4.2Tie-breaking
o 4.5Ball in and out of play
o 4.6Misconduct
4.6.1On-field
4.6.2Off-field
5Governing bodies
6International competitions
7Domestic competitions
8Notes
9References
10External links
