Category: Soccer

Soccer is undoubtedly the biggest sport in the world.

Just about every country plays it with over 250 million players worldwide. Nielson’s World Football Report learned that more than four out of 10 people around the world consider themselves soccer fans. Events such as the FIFA World Cup regularly draw billions of fans in viewership.

So when was the most popular sport in the world invented?

While modern soccer — commonly known as association football — was formalized in England during the 19th century, variations of the game existed way before then.

The game of Kemari was played in Japan as far back as 600 A.D. while China played a game called Cuju during the period of the Han Dynasty which ruled from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. Both these games involved the kicking of a ball into a net to score a point.

Similar games spread around the world with the Native Americans having Pahsaherman, the Indigenous Australians having Marn Grook and the Moari’s having Ki-o-rahi.

However, as per FIFA, the aforementioned game of Cuju (also Tsu-Chu which translates to “kicking the ball”) is the earliest form of the sport for which there is evidence. Like the sport today, it involved using any part of the body other than the hands to get a ball into a net. Games were standardized and rules were established as well. It is also believed that Cuju may have been a training exercise for soldiers during that era.

When it comes to association football (modern soccer), the rules were formed in the 19th century to standardize the various forms of soccer in England. However, the history of the sport in England dates back to the eight century A.D. where it was known as medieval football.

So to answer when soccer was invented, it ultimately depends on what you’re specifically asking about — modern soccer or the first variation of soccer.

If it’s the former, it was 1863. If it’s the latter, soccer was invented over 2,200 years ago during the imperial dynasty of China.

Soccer is undoubtedly the biggest sport in the world.

Just about every country plays it with over 250 million players worldwide. Nielson’s World Football Report learned that more than four out of 10 people around the world consider themselves soccer fans. Events such as the FIFA World Cup regularly draw billions of fans in viewership.

But who was it that actually invented soccer?

While modern soccer — commonly known as association football — was formalized in England during the 19th century, variations of the game existed way before then.

The game of Kemari was played in Japan as far back as 600 A.D. while other variations of early soccer saw the Native Americans having Pahsaherman, the Indigenous Australians having Marn Grook and the Moari’s having Ki-o-rahi.

However, according to FIFA, the game of Cuju (also Tsu-Chu which translates to “kicking the ball”) originating from China during the period of the Han Dynasty which ruled from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. is the earliest form of the sport for which there is evidence.

That would mean the origins of the sport of soccer was invented by the Han Dynasty during the imperial dynasty of China over 2,200 years ago. Historians have claimed that the sport was played even before then as far back as 5,000 years ago. But based on historical evidence, it is the Han Dynasty.

However, modern soccer is a different story. The sport that is watched and played today that is loved by everyone was formalized in the United Kingdom in 1863.

In October of that year, the Football Association was formed with the merging of 11 London schools and clubs. They met at the Freemason’s Tavern and established rules for the game with the first ever soccer match being played in December between Barnes Football Club and Richmond Football Club. The rest, of course, is history.

So to answer who invented soccer, it ultimately depends on what you’re specifically asking about — modern soccer or the first variation of soccer.

If it’s the former, it was invented by the Football Association — a group of 11 London schools and clubs who met in 1863 to standardize the game. If it’s the latter, based on historical evidence, it was China’s Han Dynasty during the period of 206 B.C. to 220 A.D.

Just about every country plays it with over 250 million players worldwide. Nielson’s World Football Report learned that more than four out of 10 people around the world consider themselves soccer fans. Events such as the FIFA World Cup regularly draw billions of fans in viewership.

But where was soccer invented?

While modern soccer — commonly known as association football — was formalized in England during the 19th century, variations of the game existed way before then.

The game of Kemari was played in Japan as far back as 600 A.D. while other variations of early soccer saw the Native Americans having Pahsaherman, the Indigenous Australians having Marn Grook and the Moari’s having Ki-o-rahi.

However, according to FIFA, the game of Cuju (also Tsu-Chu which translates to “kicking the ball”) originating from China during the period of the Han Dynasty which ruled from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. is the earliest form of the sport for which there is evidence.

That would mean the origin of the sport of soccer was invented in China during the Han Dynasty over 2,200 years ago. At least, that is the case based on historic evidence.

An exact location is hard to determine. However, one might guess it was invented in the capital at the time which was Chang’an. Today, it is modern Xi’an which is the capital of the Shaanxi Province in China.

However, modern soccer is a different story. The sport that is watched and played today that is loved by everyone was formalized in the United Kingdom in 1863.

In October of that year, the Football Association was formed with the merging of 11 London schools and clubs. They met at the Freemason’s Tavern and established rules for the game with the first ever soccer match being played in December between Barnes Football Club and Richmond Football Club. The rest, of course, is history.

The Freemason’s Tavern was located at 61-65 Great Queen Street in the West End of London, England. It was later demolished in 1909 to make way for the Connaught Hotel.

So to answer where was soccer invented, it ultimately depends on what you’re specifically asking about — modern soccer or the first variation of soccer.

If it’s the former, it was invented at The Freemason’s Tavern in London by the Football Association — a group of 11 London schools and clubs who met in 1863 to standardize the game. If it’s the latter, it was invented in China during the time of the Han Dynasty which lasted from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D.