Football vs. Soccer
IS there really difference between football and soccer?
The words football and soccer are both correct and often used interchangeably to describe the same sport which according to FIFA began in England in 1863. The term 'soccer' did in fact originate from Britain and was commonly used to refer to the sport in its early period before it spread internationally.
In this part of the world, when people think of football, their minds are instantly drawn to American football – you know, the kind of football that has more to do with throwing than kicking – and this isn’t a dig at the sport.
WORLDS APART
In the last 9 years, I’ve been blessed enough to experience the game of football in different parts of Canada. Throughout this process, I’ve noticed that there isn’t the same connection to the term “football” as there is in many countries in Europe, South America and Africa where the use of the term football is more common than “soccer”. This is the case because in this region, the world’s most popular sport isn’t number one. I’m reminded of this when I refer to the game as football in conversation and get confused looks and comments like this one,
"You mean soccer right?"
Does the terminology really matter?
This is an interesting one and will depend on who you ask and what part of the world they’re from. Let’s break down the differences in a simple format.
| Aspect | Football | Soccer |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Commonly used in Europe and many other regions | Primarily used in the United States and Canada |
| Game Type | Refers specifically to association football | Specifically refers to association football (the global standard) |
| Governing Body | Governed by FIFA for international competitions | Governed by FIFA as well, but often referred to as "soccer" in North America |
| Cultural Context | Associated with a rich history and tradition in many countries | Often seen as a distinct sport separate from American football |
Some people still argue that Americans and Canadians continue to disrespect the game by calling it soccer. I guess the questions that follow are, does the terminology matter? And should it?
In my opinion, the terminology shouldn’t cause the amount of fuss that it does because the main thing that matters in the end is the impact the game is making in communities here in Canada. We should be more worried about how the game is developing and what we as footy or soccer lovers can do to help boost that growth.
Lastly…
Whatever lingo you use to describe the game – football, soccer or footy – it still remains a sport that brings people from different cultures and communities together. It’s the world’s most popular sport by some distance.
For a full list of soccer terms and definitions, you can check out our glossary here.