Sports is a huge part of American culture and life. Many children play sports and most adults participate in at least one sport. Many men enjoy watching and participating in sports. Women are also active in some sports, such as softball and baseball. The sport of football is a popular spectator sport in the United States and is also a great source of income for sports teams.
Football is one of the oldest sports and has been played in numerous countries throughout history. According to FIFA, the earliest form of football originated in China during the second or third century B.C. The ancient Roman game Harpastum is also believed to be a distant ancestor of the game we know today. However, medieval European football rules varied widely from region to region.
Football is the most popular ball game in the world and is played between two teams of eleven players. It is easy to play and requires only basic equipment. The FIFA is the governing body of football. FIFA estimates that there are about 250 million people playing football in the 21st century. In addition to the players, there are about 1.3 billion fans worldwide who follow the sport. In fact, a combined television audience of 26 billion people watched the World Cup finals in 2010 alone.
The NFL is one of the most popular professional leagues in the United States. In the early days of the league, players played for teams in the field and were often injured. In the 20th century, the NFL was formed and became a major professional league. Today, it is the most popular professional football league in the United States.