Football (also known as soccer) is the most popular sport in 57 countries and one of the oldest in the
world. It was already practised in China as a military sport more than 2,000 years ago. It served to train
the soldiers and keep them fit. Its name was Cuju (Cu means ‘kick’ and ju means ‘ball’). The Emperor
built fields around the city and organised competitions with professional teams. Later, there were also
other versions in Japan, Australia and Greece.
The most widely accepted story suggests that England developed the sport in the 12th century. Schools
began to play it at the beginning of the 18th century, but the game had a great similarity with rugby. The
oldest professional club was formed in 1862. It was the Notts County club, which still exists today.
he first international football championship was played in different cities in the British Isles between 1883
and 1884, and it included four countries in the United Kingdom: England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in 1904, but British countries
did not join the organisation. After that date, there were many leagues in different countries. Football first
became an official sport in the Olympic Games in 1908, and in 1930 the FIFA World Cup was established
as the most important international event. However, women's football only joined this tournament sixty-
six years later.
Football in South America
European sailors who arrived in Buenos Aires in the 19th century started to play the game there. Then
British workers in Argentina formed the first club in Rosario in 1867. Brazil became the second country
to establish football. The English player Charles Miller introduced the sport in Sao Paulo in 1894. Then in
1889, British sailors founded the Valparaiso Football Club in Chile. Two years later, British workers
played football for the first time in Uruguay in 1891. And the same happened in Argentina in 1902 and
Colombia in 1903.