Since its inception, soccer has charmed the world for over 2,000 years. It is one of the most popular games worldwide, so many people know how it works. But they don’t know much about its history or what unique soccer facts it still holds today. You will be amazed at the number of soccer facts available.
Did you know that people could use an inflated pig bladder to make a soccer ball? Did you know that the English Premier League is one of the most-watched soccer competitions around the globe, with 4.7 billion viewers? That’s quite a number!
Although it may seem difficult to explain why so many people love the game, one thing is certain: in a 90-minute match, you can find everything a sports fan could want. You can see the competitiveness and aggression and play against the clock. It’s difficult to not be emotionally involved when watching a soccer match. You can see passion and heart with every kick.
Do you want to learn more about soccer? These 80 Soccer Facts will help you score a goal.
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Soccer Facts
A 90-minute soccer match is considered to be complete.
A typical soccer match lasts for 90 minutes. Each match is split into two halves of 45 minutes each. Between halves, there is a 15-minute break. A soccer match does not end in 90 minutes. Sometimes, it can last longer due to substitutions, injuries and disciplinary sanctions. The match’s timekeeper is the referee. He is also responsible for ensuring the safety of all players.
China was the first country to develop soccer.
The Chinese game cuju, which means to kick, was the most obvious form of soccer. This game requires players to use all their body parts except their hands. The game’s goal is for the ball to be kicked into a net. Chinese cuju is very similar in style to soccer.
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England was the birthplace of soccer.
According to some stories, soccer originated in England around the 12th century. People in England played a similar sport to soccer during this period, which was played on grassland and roads. Standard rules weren’t yet in use, so players might include kicks or punches back then. Football was considered rough and violent in its early days, and it caused the disorder.
Modern soccer was established in 1863.
Although games and football have been around for centuries now, modern football was created in 1863 by the Football Association. The newly established group set the rules. The F.A. (Football Association) used the name “association soccer” to distinguish the game from other games such as rugby football. The first time that the term soccer was used was in 1895.
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Each player plays a different role.
Soccer is played between two teams. Each team can have no more than 11 players. Substitute players do not count in this number. Each team has a goalkeeper and defender and a forward and midfielder. These players each have a specific area of responsibility.
The goalkeeper is a key player in soccer.
Important soccer facts: The goalkeeper’s job is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. The team’s goalkeeper is the only player that can use their arms and hands to catch, throw and save the ball. However, they must stay within the pitch perimeter. The goalkeeper wears a different colour jersey than their teammates.
The defender stops any attacks by the opposing team.
The team’s backbone is the defender player. There are four types: full-back, centre back, wing-back and sweeper. They are located in front of the goalkeeper. They must stop the opposing team from scoring at all costs. They also block shots, stop offensive players from the opposing team, and sometimes kick goals.
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The engine of the team is the midfielders.
Midfielders, also known as linkmen or halfbacks, are found in the middle of the pitch. They are often referred to as the heart of the team. They are expected to be strong in endurance and have a strong work ethic. They are responsible for determining where the ball is going and which players are running. They are also among the most agile players on the team. They run all over the pitch in pursuit of the ball.
The goal of a forward player is to score.
The forward position is one of the most exciting in soccer. The primary responsibility of forwarding players is to score a goal. They must have excellent finishing skills and be able to shoot under pressure. Forward players must also learn to make mistakes and pressure their opponents. A great forward player must also have excellent shooting, speed, and heading abilities.
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English Premier League is one of the most prestigious soccer competitions around the globe.
The English Premier League is home to many famous soccer managers and coaches. It is also one of the most popular soccer competitions around the globe. The games are watched by 4.7 billion people worldwide. They are also aired in 212 different countries. The competition is usually held between August and May.
In 1992, the Premier League was established.
The fascinating history of the English Premier League, or EPL, is quite remarkable. The league was established on February 20, 1992. The league’s first games took place in August 1992. At first, it had 22 founding members, but EPL reduced that number to 20 overtime. Barclays Premier League was the official name of the league. It was renamed EPL in the 2016-2017 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most important players of his generation.
Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, or Cristiano Ronaldo, was born on February 5 1985. He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. At 17, he began his soccer career with Sporting CP in Portugal. He signed his contract with Manchester United one year later.
Cristiano Ronaldo won four Champion Leagues with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United.
Source Ray Booysen at Wikimedia Commons
Ronaldo was a Manchester United player for six years. He won many trophies with this club. He left Manchester United after a successful six-year tenure and joined Real Madrid. He was part of the new team and gave his all to make Real Madrid a success. He was Madrid’s greatest scorer and won many more competitions and titles.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most highly-paid soccer players.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a highly-skilled and marketable player in soccer. It’s not surprising that he ranks among the highest-earning athletes. Ronaldo earned around EUR31 million in 2019, according to his earnings. He is also one of the most highly-paid sports endorsers. He was the third person to sign a Nike lifetime contract in 2016.
Nettie Honeyball was the founder of one of the first women’s soccer teams.
Nettie Honeyball (also known as Mary Hutson) founded the British Ladies’ Football club in 1895. It was one of the first women’s soccer clubs. In newspapers, she placed advertisements encouraging women to join her team. She was fortunate to receive 30 responses from young girls, most of whom belonged to middle-class families.
FIFA Women’s World Cup was established in 1991.
In 1991, the Women’s World Cup (or FIFA Women’s World cup) was established. The Women’s World Cup was governed by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), just like the World Men’s Cup. Every four years, the Women’s World Cup is held. The United States won the first game in 1991. France hosted the 2019 World Cup.
Manchester United is one the most successful clubs in England.
Manchester United was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath L&YR F.C. It is a Premier League team that hails from Old Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. They have won many trophies, including 20 League titles (English Football Champions), 12 F.A. Cups or Football Association Challenge Cups and five League Cups.
From 2016 to 2017, Manchester United was the most successful football team.
Manchester United had a great season in 2016 and 2017. They won three trophies and saw a 21% increase in revenue over the previous year. The total income for the team was EUR676.3 million. Manchester was also remarkable in 2019, becoming the third most valuable football club globally with a market worth of PS3.15billion.
David Beckham has been a Manchester fan since he was a child.
David Robert Joseph Beckham, an ex-soccer player from England, is one of the greatest players. When he was a young child, his passion for soccer started. His parents were huge supporters of Manchester United and would drive 200 miles to see the team’s games. Bobby Charlton was his soccer coach, and he played for Ridgeway Rovers in the local youth soccer league.
Beckham is a soccer superstar around the world.
Source by David Cornejo at Wikimedia Commons
David Beckham started his professional soccer career in 1992 with Manchester. He made his breakthrough in Manchester in 1995-96, when he played 33 games in Premier League. He was also awarded six Premier League titles and two F.A. Cups as proof of his abilities in sports. Beckham left United in 2003 after he was released from the team. He moved to Real Madrid, paying a EUR35million transfer fee. Here are some famous soccer facts
Real Madrid was bestowed with “real” by King Alfonso XIII.
Real Madrid Club de Futbol, or Real Madrid, is a Spanish soccer club based in Madrid. The team was established on March 6 1902. King Alfonso XIII, the King of Spain (1886-1931), blessed the team with the Spanish term “real” (royal). Real Madrid was also known as “Los Blancos” because of its traditional all-white uniforms.
Real Madrid was a landmark in the history and evolution of soccer.
Real Madrid, a Spanish professional soccer club, has won numerous awards and championship trophies. The team has won 66 trophies in domestic football. The team was also named FIFA Club of the 20th Century 2000 and the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit 2004.
Uruguay was the first FIFA World Cup champion.
From July 13 to July 30 1930, the first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay. Uruguay was chosen by FIFA’s governing body to host the tournament. All games were held in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital. The competition was attended by 13 teams, with only a handful of European teams participating. The committee divided teams into four groups, and the winners of each group advanced to the semi-finals. Uruguay defeated Argentina in the final round. Uruguay has been crowned the FIFA World Cup Champion.
Each soccer team may have six substitutes.
Substitution refers to when a player from the bench replaces the one on the field. Tournaments allow for six substitutions while allowing five in certain cases. Limiting substitutions is primarily done to minimize interruptions in the game.
With a capacity of 114,000, the Rungrado May 1 Stadium in New York is the largest stadium.
The Rungrado May 1 Stadium, Pyongyang, opened to the public on May 1, 1989. It can seat approximately 114,000 people and covers 20.7 hectares of land. The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualifier was held at the stadium in July 2017. AFC U-23 refers to an international competition for men under-23 football.
The primary soccer league in Canada is called the Canadian Premier League.
The Canadian Soccer League is the primary soccer competition in Canada. There are eight teams in the tournament, each representing a different province of Canada. Each club plays 28 games. The season starts in April and ends in October. On May 6, 2017, the Canadian Soccer Association approved the Canadian Premier League.
The first match of the Canadian Premier League was played between York FC and Forge FC.
On April 27, 2019, York9, a Canadian soccer team from Toronto, played Forge FC. The game ended in a draw between Forge FC, a professional soccer Canadian club, and York9, a Canadian soccer club from Toronto, Canada, on April 27, 2019.
Landon Donovan can be a versatile attacker.
Landon Donovan, a retired professional soccer player, was one of the most exciting soccer players the United States has ever seen. Landon Donovan is an all-around attacker known for his speed, stamina, and technical skills, which allow him to play many different positions in soccer. Landon’s manager once stated that Landon was too skilled at so many positions that it was difficult to know where to place him.
Landon Donovan, the USMNT’s leader in assists and goals, is Landon Donovan.
For more than ten years, Donovan has been a well-respected player in the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT). He is an all-time leader in assists and the only American to score 50 goals and 50 assists for USMNT.
He also won the U.S. Soccer Athlete Of The Year four times. He earned $14 million during his time with the USMNT.
Official attendance was the highest at the 1950 World Cup Final match between Uruguay and Brazil.
The match between Uruguay and Brazil in 1950 was one of the most memorable matches in the FIFA World Cup. Brazil hosted the tournament, and the match took place at Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro. Nearly 200,000 people attended the final match! This match holds the record for the largest World Cup match attendance. All those present watched as Uruguay’s players won the World Cup Trophy and were named Cup Champion.
Concetto Lo Bello is one of soccer’s most well-known referees.
Concello Lo Bello, a retired international referee from the Italian association, holds the record for presiding the most games in Serie A. This is a professional soccer league competition. Lo Bello’s entire career spanned from 1944 to 1974. In 1958, he had his first international match.
He officiated 34 international matches over his entire career. He was a brave, well-dressed, authoritative man with a trimmed moustache.
People used pig bladders as soccer balls in ancient times.
These soccer facts might make you cringe: Soccer has been popular. Although people enjoyed kicking and playing with a ball, rubber was unavailable in ancient times.
In the beginning, people used an inflated pig bladder to make a soccer ball. They would use their feet and hands to keep the ball in the air. They would place the pig bladder in the leather over the years, giving rise to pigskin.
Charles Goodyear invented the first vulcanized soccer balls.
In 1855, Charles Goodyear, an American self-taught chemist/manufacturing engineer, created a vulcanized rubber soccer ball. The rubber treatment made the ball more flexible and resistant to heat and cold. Goodyear’s modification made the ball bounce better and easier to kick.
Adidas introduced the Telstar soccer ball.
A German multinational corporation, Adidas, introduced Telstar, the World Cup’s first ball with 12 black hexagonal panels and 20 white pentagonal panels. A Danish amateur goalkeeper designed the soccer ball. This design became the standard size for a soccer ball.
Telstar’s soccer ball is in black and white to be easily viewed on T.V.
Source: Pixabay
Telstar was the original ball of the World Cup. It was also the official logo for the 1970 World Cup. Telstar’s black-and-white design was chosen because it made the ball stand out more on T.V., especially in the early days when most televisions were only black and white.
The squad numbers delineate the soccer players on the pitch.
The number on a player’s uniform or jersey is sometimes called the squad number. Squad numbers were originally used to identify the player’s position. Starting players were assigned numbers 1 through 11. One was the goalkeeper. Nine were for centre forwards or strikers. Seven were for wingers. Players can now wear any number of jerseys they want, as long as it’s unique to their team and between 1 and 99.
Only eight countries have ever won the FIFA World Cup.
All over the globe, soccer teams are eager to win the FIFA World Cup. Only eight countries won the trophy out of 21 World Cup tournaments. Brazil won five times. Germany, Italy were in second place with four wins. France, Argentina, Uruguay, and France won two titles, while Spain and England had one win.
Andres Escobar hit an accidental goal.
Andres Escobar Saldarriaga is a Columbian footballer named “The Gentleman” because of his calm play and clean play. Andres Escobar played as a defender for the Colombia National Team. His job is to stop the opposing team from scoring. He was part of the Colombian team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA, where an unanticipated event occurred.
The American soccer coach John Harkes attempted a left-wing cross in the first half. Escobar was there, however, to stop it. He misdirected the ball and gave the USA a lead of one point. The USA, 2-1, won the match.
Andres Escobar lost his life because of an accidental goal.
Escobar went back to Columbia after the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Just days after they were eliminated, Escobar hung out in El Poblado with his friends on July 1, 1994. Three men approached Escobar the next morning as he was driving alone.
The men began to argue, and suddenly, two of them pulled out guns and shot Escobar. Escobar was shot six more times with a.38 calibre gun before being taken to the hospital. Some reports claim that the killer shouted “Gol!” at each shot.
Lightning has killed 11 soccer players.
An absurd natural event occurred in October 1998 while Bena Tshadi (a soccer club from Congo) was playing on the pitch. One thunderbolt struck the pitch and killed eleven players. Surprisingly, all 11 players belonged to the same team, while Bansaga’s members were uninjured. Because the other team had not sustained serious injuries, witchcraft was born. It didn’t matter if black magic was involved, but it was an awful incident that should have raised concerns about athlete safety.
This video shows a lightning strike in a soccer match.
“World Cup Willie”, the first FIFA mascot, was born.
Each FIFA World Cup has its official mascot. The FIFA World Cup mania started when England, the host nation, launched “Willie,” the official mascot. Reg Hoye, a commercial artist-illustrator, designed “Willie,” a lion is representing England’s symbol. He wore a Union Flag that read “World Cup.”
Clovis Fernandes is the biggest fan of the Brazilian team.
Clovis Acosta Fernandes is a businessman from Porto Alegre, South Brazil. He has been a passionate fan of the Brazilian National Team for over 25 years. He was a fan of the Brazilian National Team for about 150 games.
He could always be seen holding the World Cup replica trophy and joked that he was the 12th member. The fan who supported the Brazilian team for many years died on September 15, 2015.
1937 was the year that television broadcast its first live soccer match.
Soccer has been a popular sport on television. The first-ever televised soccer match was an exhibition match between Arsenal, an English professional football team, and Arsenal Football Club Academy in Highbury, London. It was televised in 1937. This match was aired by British Broadcasting Corporation, also known as BBC.
The world has approximately 265 million soccer players.
Soccer is the dominant sport globally, with more than 200 countries having an average of 265 soccer players. FIFA’s large-scale survey found that more than 240 million people play soccer regularly. This includes 5 million officials, referees and assistants who directly participate in the game. The countries with the highest number of soccer players include Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and China. Amazing soccer facts!
Bon Accord Football lost a match by a score of 36-0.
The football team from Aberdeen, Scotland, was defeated by Arbroath in the Scottish competition on September 12, 1885. This is a Scottish football team from Angus. It was 36-0. It was so bad!
John Petrie, Arbroath’s centre forward, scored 13 goals. Arbroath led by 15 goals at halftime. By the end of the second half, the team had scored 21 more goals, which led to their victory.
The Soccer Laws of the Games contains 17 laws.
Laws of the Game, or LOTG, are the rules for soccer or association football. This regulates the number of players that each team should have. It also includes penalties and the size of the game.
LOTG also has 17 laws. In the middle of the 19th century, many attempts were made to establish official soccer rules. The Football Association officially adopted the rules in 1863.
Joseph Hudson invented the first whistle in a soccer match.
Joseph Hudson, an inventor from Birmingham, England, was also the founder of J Hudson & Co. Joseph Hudson and his younger brother developed the ‘Acme City” brass whistle.
This whistle was the first whistle used by referees. This whistle was first used in the 1878-1979 Football Association Cup between Sheffield Team and Nottingham Forest Team. He accidentally dropped and broke his violin.
Pele is one of the most talented soccer players in Brazil.
Brazilian soccer player Edson Arantes do Nascimento was among the highest-paid and most prominent. His soccer career began very young. At 15 years old, he began playing soccer and joined the national team at 16. He made his World Cup debut at 17. He was also part of the Brazilian team that won three World Cup championships.
Sheffield FC is one of the oldest soccer clubs in England.
On October 24 1857, two English athletes, Nathaniel Creswick (English) and William Prest (English) founded the Sheffield Football Club. After it was established, it studied the different codes and rules used in “Mob Football”. After years of experimentation, they eventually organized the laws that would become the basis of modern soccer.
Sheffield joined the Football Association in 1863, but it continued to follow Sheffield’s rules. FIFA and Football Association have recognized Sheffield FC as the “oldest club globally”.
NAC Breda is the name of one of the longest football teams.
NAC Breda, a Dutch team is one of the longest and most unusual football names. The team’s name is a Dutch short form version for Nooit Opgeven Altijd Doorzetten Aangenaam Door Vermaak En Nuttig Door Ontspanning Combinatie Breda.
Nooit Opgeven, Altijd Doorzetten in English means “Never give up, always persevere”. Combining the first letters of the next word creates the acronym ADVENDO, which stands for “pleasant for entertainment and useful in relaxation”. Combinatie means combination. The word Breda, which means gratitude, is the final definition. It is named after the Dutch city of Breda.
Brazil has never lost to Norway.
Brazil is undoubtedly one of the most formidable teams in history, but Brazil has never lost to them. Norway has yet to lose a single game against Brazil. Norway has defeated Brazil twice, and both of their games ended in draws.
The match between Claypole and Victoriano Arenas had 36 red cards.
A red card will be issued to soccer players for serious offences, and they will be expelled from the match. A historic match took place at the Victoriano Arenas Stadium, Argentina, in 1998. An Argentine female referee, Florencia Romano, gave out the reddest cards to five players in two first-round matches.
Pakistan is home to more than 55% of all soccer balls.
Many manufacturers make soccer balls around the globe. Sialkot, Pakistan, originates more than 55% of soccer balls. Sialkot is home to an average of 1,000 soccer ball producers. Each company employs approximately 60,000 people. Many of these factories look forward to the 2022 World Cup.
Miura is the oldest active player in soccer.
Source: Norio Nakayama on Wikimedia Commons
Kazuyoshi Mura, a Japanese professional soccer player, is the oldest goalkeeper in Japan and the oldest soccer player at 54. He was also one of the Japanese Asian Footballer of the year recipients. Miura is currently a member of Yokohama F.C. Here are some cool facts about soccer!
Artificial grass is preferred on soccer fields.
Source: Pixabay
Ever wonder why the grass on soccer fields looks so green and fresh? Artificial carpet grass is used on most soccer fields. Synthetic grass has replaced natural grass over the years because it offers more benefits. Artificial grass is much easier to maintain and can last up to 15 years. Artificial grass is a preferred choice for football because it doesn’t easily get damaged by natural calamities.
About 300 people were killed in Riot during a soccer match between Lima and Peru.
Lima, Peru, was the scene of one of the most tragic soccer events in history. It saw more than 300 people die and over 500 injured. It happened on May 24, 1964, at Estadio Nacional, Lima. The match attracted approximately 53,000 people, about 5% of Lima’s population.
The referee failed to consider Peru’s Kilolobaton score and tagged it as a foul, triggering riots. The angry crowd took to the streets and started fighting with officials and fans.
Guiseppe Meazza shot a hilarious goal.
Italian football player Giuseppe “Peppino” Meazza scored a hilarious penalty goal in 1938 when his shorts fell. He lifted his shorts and kicked the soccer ball with one hand. The goal was crucial to their victory against Brazil, despite an absurd moment.
Jules Rimet Trophy was the first prize in FIFA World Cup.
The original prize for the FIFA World Cup was the Jules Rimet Trophy. Originally called “Victory”, it is now more commonly known as Coupe du Monde or the World Cup. It was renamed in 1946 to honour FIFA president Jules Rimet.
The trophy was created by French sculptor Abel Lafleur and measured 35 cm (14 inches) in height. It weighed 3.8 kg (8.4 lbs). The Uruguay Football Club was the first to receive the trophy, then taken to Uruguay in 1930 for the FIFA World Cup.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Julio Iglesias was awarded a spot.
After completing his secondary education, Julio Iglesias was a Spanish singer and songwriter. He played as a junior reserve member of Real Madrid. His soccer career was cut short after a car accident that left him partially paralyzed in his twenties.
The largest floating football stadium in the world is located in Singapore.
Amazing soccer facts! The Float in Marina Bay, located in the Central Region of Singapore, is the world’s largest floating soccer stage and stadium. Construction of the stadium took 13 months and began in March 2006. Lee Hsien Loong officially inaugurated the Float at Marina Bay in April 2007. It can seat approximately 27,000.
