Soccer and football are two sports that are often confused, especially in the United States where the term “soccer” is used to refer to the sport that the rest of the world calls “football.” But how and when did this name change occur?
The term “soccer” actually originated in England in the late 19th century as a colloquial abbreviation of “association football.” The sport was originally referred to as “football,” but with the rising popularity of rugby football and other variations of the sport, the need arose for a way to distinguish between them. Thus, the term “association football” was used to differentiate it from rugby football. Eventually, the word “soccer” emerged as a derivative of “association,” and was widely used in England and other English-speaking countries such as Australia and the United States.
Meanwhile, the term “football” continued to be used in most other countries to refer to what Americans now call soccer. The sport’s official name, “association football,” was often shortened to just “football” or “footy” in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. In countries such as Brazil and Italy, the term “futebol” and “calcio” respectively, were used to describe the sport.
Over time, as soccer gained popularity around the world and became the most popular sport in many countries, the term “football” came to be associated exclusively with the game of soccer. This is why what Americans call soccer is known as football in almost every other country.
In the United States, the term “soccer” was first used in the 1970s to avoid confusion with American football and other sports that also go by the name “football.” The North American Soccer League (NASL) popularized the term, and it has since become widely accepted in the country.
While the name change from football to soccer may seem confusing to some, it is simply a case of different countries using different terms to refer to the same sport. Whether you call it soccer or football, the beautiful game remains as popular as ever around the world.