Is it soccer or football? The real story behind the names

Ever walked into a bar in London and asked for the soccer score, only to get blank stares? Or tried to explain to a friend in Texas why you love football, only to have them think you meant American football? It’s not a mix-up - it’s a language divide older than most of us realize.

Why do some countries say soccer and others say football?

The word football has been around since the 1400s. Back then, it described any game where you kicked a ball with your feet. In England, by the 1800s, schools like Eton and Rugby were playing their own versions. Some allowed hands. Others didn’t. When they tried to make one set of rules in 1863, the Football Association was born - and the game we now call association football became official.

But here’s the twist: people started shortening it. In British universities, students loved dropping syllables. "Association football" became "assoc." Then "assoc. football." Then just "soccer." It was slang. A playful abbreviation. And for decades, it was perfectly normal in England to say "soccer."

By the 1900s, "football" was the default term in the UK. But in the United States, something else was growing. American football - with its pads, helmets, and forward passes - was catching on. To tell them apart, Americans started calling the global game "soccer." The term stuck. And by the 1970s, "soccer" was the only word used in North America to describe the sport played with 11 players on each side.

Where is it called football? Where is it called soccer?

If you’re in Europe, South America, Africa, or most of Asia, you say "football." That’s over 200 countries. In Brazil, Germany, Nigeria, Japan - everyone says "futebol," "Fußball," "football," "足球" (zúqiú). It’s the same game. Just different languages.

Only a handful of places call it "soccer" as the main name: the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Even there, younger fans are starting to say "football" more often. Why? Because the World Cup is everywhere. You don’t need to be American to know Lionel Messi. You don’t need to be British to know Neymar.

In Australia, the national team was once called the "Socceroos." Now, the governing body rebranded as "Football Australia" in 2020. They dropped "soccer" to align with the global game. Same in South Africa. Same in Canada. Even the U.S. Soccer Federation officially changed its name to "U.S. Soccer" in 2019 - not "U.S. Football." They kept "soccer" for clarity, but the shift is happening.

Does it matter what you call it?

Not really. The rules are the same. The ball is round. The goals are 8 yards wide. The offside rule? Still confusing. The World Cup final still draws 1.5 billion viewers. None of that changes whether you say "soccer" or "football."

But here’s the real issue: language shapes identity. When an American kid says "I play soccer," they’re speaking to a global audience. When a Nigerian kid says "I play football," they’re speaking the same language as their heroes on TV. The word isn’t just a label - it’s a connection.

Some people get upset about it. "It’s not soccer! It’s football!" they shout. But that’s like arguing whether "color" or "colour" is right. It’s regional. It’s cultural. Neither is wrong.

What matters is that you know what game you’re talking about. If you say "football" in the U.S., you might mean the NFL. If you say "soccer" in England, you’ll sound like a tourist. But if you say "the game with the 90-minute match, 11 players, and no hands," everyone gets it.

How the World Cup changed everything

Before the 1990s, most Americans barely paid attention to the World Cup. Now, it’s a national event. Millions watch. Kids wear Messi jerseys. Schools host tournaments. The U.S. women’s team is a cultural phenomenon.

As the game grew in the U.S., so did the use of "football." You’ll hear ESPN commentators say "football" now. You’ll see "football" on billboards near stadiums. Major League Soccer doesn’t call itself "Major League Soccer" because they think "soccer" is the official name - they call it that because it’s what people in America understand.

The same thing happened in Australia. When the A-League launched in 2005, it was branded as "soccer." By 2020, they changed the name to "Football Australia." Why? Because they wanted to feel part of the global community. Not an outsider.

What’s the right word to use?

There’s no single right answer. But here’s a simple rule: use the word your audience understands.

• If you’re writing for a British audience - say "football."
• If you’re talking to someone in New York - say "soccer."
• If you’re on social media and want to reach fans worldwide - use both: "football (soccer)."
• If you’re coaching a kid in Toronto - say "football." They’ll learn quickly.

Even FIFA, the global governing body, uses "football" in all its official documents. But in the U.S., their website says "soccer" because they’re speaking to Americans. They don’t argue. They adapt.

It’s not about the word - it’s about the game

At the end of the day, the ball doesn’t care what you call it. The goalkeeper still dives. The striker still scores. The crowd still roars. The World Cup still happens every four years.

Calling it "soccer" or "football" doesn’t change the skill, the passion, or the history. It’s the same sport. Same rules. Same heart.

So next time someone corrects you - smile. You’re not wrong. They’re not wrong. You’re just speaking different dialects of the same beautiful game.