Football is a team sport that is played on a rectangular field with goal posts on both sides. The aim of the game is to score by kicking the ball into the opponent’s goal.
Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. Over 250 million people play the sport worldwide. Many countries compete in cup competitions during the season. The most prestigious international competition is FIFA’s World Cup, held every four years. In 2010, 26 billion people watched the World Cup finals.
Football developed in England in the nineteenth century. It is played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular grass field. Players advance the ball down the field by running, passing, dribbling, and tackling. If the opposing player is tackled, they may try to regain control of the ball.
Football was developed as a way to break the monotony of the working class lifestyle. People were working long hours and had little time for leisure activities. During the industrial revolution, many of the new inhabitants sought ways to unwind.
A key urban institution, the Football League, was formed in 1888 to allow leading clubs from the North and Midlands to compete against each other. Clubs began charging admission to spectators in the 1870s.
Football was also received well in Europe. At the outbreak of World War I, the average attendance in England rose to 23,100.
The game took shape in the early nineteenth century as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Workers became increasingly likely to have time off during the weekend.