Most countries around the world call the sport of kicking a ball into a net “football.” The United States is a notable exception. Why is that? How did soccer in America become known as soccer?
The origin of the word
The word “soccer” is actually an abbreviation of the word “association”, as in “association football”. The sport was originally known as “association football” in England, but the name was shortened to “soccer” in the late 1800s.
It’s believed that the word “soccer” was first used in England in 1863 when it appeared in a magazine called The Sportswriter. At the time, there were two main forms of football being played in England: rugby football and association football. The Sportswriter used the term “soccer” to distinguish between the two sports.
The word “soccer” eventually made its way over to the United States, where it became the preferred term for the sport. In recent years, however, the term “football” has been gaining popularity in the US, particularly among younger generations.
The sport of football in the United States
The sport of football in the United States is commonly referred to as soccer. The term soccer is believed to have been derived from the English words “association” and “football”. Association football is the sport’s formal name.
The sport of soccer in the United States has its roots in the mid-19th century. It was in this time period that American colleges began to adopt the game. The first college soccer match was played between Princeton University and Rutgers University in 1869.
Soccer would gain popularity among American youth in the early 20th century. This popularity led to the formation of several professional leagues, including the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968. The NASL would ultimately fold in 1984, but not before helping to launch the careers of several international stars, such as Pele and Johan Cruyff.
Today, soccer is one of the most popular sports in the United States. Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional league in the country and features teams from across North America. MLS has seen a dramatic increase in popularity in recent years, due in part to the success of the U.S. Men’s National Team at major international tournaments.
Why football is called soccer in the United States
Football, or soccer as it is called in the United States, is a sport with a long and complicated history. The game has been around for centuries, and its name has changed many times over the years. So why is it called soccer in the United States?
The answer is both simple and complicated. The simple answer is that the game was originally called soccer in England, and the name stuck when the sport made its way to the United States. The complicated answer has to do with the history of the word “soccer” itself.
The word “soccer” comes from the English word “association,” which was used to describe the sport of football in England in the 1800s. “Association” was shortened to “assoc,” and then eventually to “soc.” In America, the game of football was already popular, so when English immigrants brought over the sport of soccer, they simply called it by its English name.
Over time, American English speakers began to use the word “soccer” more and more, until it became the standard term for the sport in America. So that’s why football is called soccer in the United States!
Conclusion
So there you have it — the history of why football is called soccer in the United States. While the origins of the word are a bit murky, it’s clear that soccer has been used in America for a long time and is here to stay. Whether you call it soccer or football, it’s still the same great game that millions of people around the world enjoy. Thanks for reading!
