Soccer

Soccer, also known as football in most countries outside of North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The primary objective of the game is to score goals by propelling a spherical ball into the opposing team’s net using any part of the body except the arms and hands, with the exception of the goalkeeper, who can use their hands within a designated area. The game is played on a rectangular field, typically known as a pitch, which has goalposts at each end.

Soccer is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, regulated internationally by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). The sport is characterized by its emphasis on skill, strategy, and teamwork, making it highly popular globally. Soccer matches are played divided into two halves, usually lasting 45 minutes each, with added time for stoppages. The sport fosters a strong sense of community and is popularly followed by millions of fans worldwide, with major international competitions, such as the FIFA World Cup, drawing significant global attention.