fotboll

Fotboll, known in English as football or soccer, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular pitch with a spherical ball. The object is to score goals by getting the ball into the opposing team's net. The game is governed by the Laws of the Game, maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), and internationally coordinated by FIFA, the sport's global governing body.

A typical match lasts 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves, with stoppage time added at the referee's discretion. The ball is in play unless it completely crosses the goal line or touchline or the referee stops play. Common features include fouls, offsides decisions, and throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks. Players, including the goalkeeper, may use their hands only within the penalty area, with punishments such as yellow or red cards for infractions. Substitutions are permitted within limits that vary by competition.

Governing bodies: FIFA is the worldwide federation; six continental confederations; national associations such as Svenska Fotbollförbundet (SvFF) in Sweden. Major international tournaments include the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship; club football is organized into domestic leagues and cups, as well as continental competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. The most widely watched leagues include the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga.

Origins of modern association football trace to 19th-century England; the sport spread globally and is played at amateur and professional levels. In Sweden and many other countries, fotboll is the common name used. The sport has developed women's competitions and variants such as futsal and beach soccer, contributing to broad participation and global development.