soccer

Soccer, also known as association football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular grass or artificial surface with a spherical ball. The object is to score more goals than the opponent within 90 minutes of play, usually divided into two 45-minute halves, with stoppage time added. The ball is typically moved primarily by kicking, but players may also use their head, chest, and other parts of the body except the hands and arms. Only the goalkeeper may handle the ball within the penalty area.

The sport traces its modern codification to 19th-century England, where schools and clubs developed standardized rules. The term soccer arose from a contraction of "association football" and was widely used in the United States, Canada, and Australia, though many countries simply call it football. The game's global popularity grew through professional leagues, international competition, and media distribution.

Competition is organized through domestic leagues and cups, and international play through national teams. The sport's premier international tournament is the FIFA World Cup, held for men since 1930 and for women since 1991. At the club level, major competitions include the UEFA Champions League in Europe, the Copa Libertadores in South America, and various continental championships in Asia, Africa, and elsewhere. Governing bodies include FIFA and the six regional confederations.

Equipment includes a size-appropriate ball, two goals, and a pitch with markings. Standard rules cover fouls, free kicks, penalties, throw-ins, corner kicks, and substitutions, with disciplinary action provided by referees. Modern play also uses technologies such as goal-line technology and video assistant referees in many leagues.