| The history of soccer can be traced back to almost | | | | The sport blossomed throughout England and held its |
| every country of origin. The game was so accessible | | | | first championship after just eight years. As expected |
| that men of every status could afford to play. It's | | | | the sport traveled throughout Europe and |
| easy to imagine that games of kicking a ball or | | | | international competitions between England and |
| something that resembles a ball have been around | | | | Scotland formed. The sport brought in spectators |
| for thousands of years. The ancient Romans and | | | | and produced athletic stars which pushed the |
| Chinese are credited with the very first signs of | | | | organizations to formalize their practices. New |
| soccer. China used to play games similar to football as | | | | associations began to pop up throughout Scotland, |
| far back as three thousand years ago and the | | | | Ireland and Germany. |
| Romans used to keep there warriors fit with football. | | | | The largest of all international associations was |
| A number of other countries laid claim to the sport | | | | formed in 1912, Federation Internationale de Football |
| as well including Japan, England, Italy and South and | | | | Association, FIFA. Fifa held the now famous World |
| Central America. | | | | Cup in 1930 and has grown to over 200 members |
| Credit with the formal development of soccer history | | | | throughout the entire world. Now there are tons of |
| is rightfully given to England. They were the first to | | | | amateur, semi professional and professional leagues all |
| start incorporating rules and form associations or | | | | over the world. Whether it's young kids, professional |
| leagues. Around 1863 they began to separate soccer | | | | athletes or weekend warriors soccer can be found |
| from rugby and formed the first Football Association. | | | | anywhere in the world |
| Teams from around the London area came together | | | | Soccer history has evolved to today's standard |
| and began to formulate the basic rules that were | | | | where it is played at the amateur and professional |
| agreeable by everyone. These included the size of | | | | level all over the world. It is recognized as the most |
| the field, number of players and rules regarding | | | | played and watched sport in the world. The basic |
| contact. Ironically it wasn't until six years later that | | | | rules and limited amount of equipment make soccer |
| the hand ball or no carrying of the ball was included. | | | | an easy sport to participate in for all. |