Association football: meaning, definitions and examples
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association football
[ əˌsoʊ.siˈeɪ.ʃən ˈfʊtˌbɔl ]
popular sport
Association football, commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played with a spherical ball between two teams of eleven players. It is widely considered the most popular sport in the world, with millions of fans and players globally. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting the ball into the opposing team's goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| association football |
This term is rarely used in everyday language and is primarily used in formal or legal contexts to distinguish football from other types of football games.
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| soccer |
In North America, 'soccer' is the term used to distinguish association football from American football. It is used in both formal and informal settings.
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| football |
In most of the world, especially in Europe, Africa, and Asia, 'football' is the common term for the sport. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.
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| footy |
Commonly used in Australia and New Zealand, 'footy' is an informal term that refers to Australian Rules Football or rugby. However, it can also refer to association football in a casual context.
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Examples of usage
- Association football is played in over 200 countries worldwide.
- The World Cup is the pinnacle of international association football competitions.
- Many children dream of becoming professional association football players.
- In association football, the referee enforces the rules of the game.
- The English Premier League is one of the most prestigious association football leagues in the world.
Translations
Translations of the word "association football" in other languages:
🇵🇹 futebol
🇮🇳 फ़ुटबॉल
🇩🇪 Fußball
🇮🇩 sepak bola
🇺🇦 футбол
🇵🇱 piłka nożna
🇯🇵 サッカー (sakkā)
🇫🇷 football
🇪🇸 fútbol
🇹🇷 futbol
🇰🇷 축구 (chukgu)
🇸🇦 كرة القدم (kurat alqadam)
🇨🇿 fotbal
🇸🇰 futbal
🇨🇳 足球 (zúqiú)
🇸🇮 nogomet
🇮🇸 fótbolti
🇰🇿 футбол
🇬🇪 ფეხბურთი (pekbhurti)
🇦🇿 futbol
🇲🇽 fútbol
Etymology
The term 'association football' originated in England, where the sport evolved from various forms of football played in the mid-19th century. The word 'association' was added to distinguish it from other codes of football, such as rugby football. The rules of association football were codified in the 1860s, leading to the establishment of the Football Association in 1863. The sport spread rapidly across the globe, becoming a beloved pastime for millions of people of all ages.