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Who Invented Soccer
Evidence from many ancient societies Chinese, Greek, Mayan, and
Egyptian reveals that kicking games like soccer was played in those
cultures. The modern game of soccer began in the 19th century in
England, where a variety of football games developed, all of which
involved both handling and kicking.
London Football Association (FA) in 1863 established the first set
of rules for soccer, which was played at that time mostly in private
schools and universities. The FA Cup, a tournament first organized
in 1871, sparked the rapid spread of soccer in England. Regular league
play started in England in 1888. A game in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1872
between an English all-star team and its Scottish counterpart marked
the beginning of international play.
Soccer's global spread began at the end of the 19th century, when British
traders, sailors, and workers carried the sport all over the world.
By 1930 professional leagues were operating in many countries, and that
year FIFA formed in 1904 and organized the first World Championship.
Now known simply as the World Cup, the tournament is played every four
years and has become the world's most popular sporting event.
The North American Soccer League (NASL), founded in 1968, brought Brazilian
star Pelé to the United States, and by 1980 the league had 24 teams.
The NASL suffered financially, and in 1984 it went out of business.
However, the league left a legacy of growing American involvement in
the sport at youth level. By the 1990s, soccer was recognized as the
fastest-growing college and high school sport in the United States.
The Soccer Industry Council of America estimated that by 1994 there were
more than 13 million boys and girls under the age of 18 who played soccer.
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