Soccer One of the most noticeable variations between British and American English is that the sport known as football in the United Kingdom is commonly referred to as soccer in the United States. Because soccer started in England, it is commonly considered that it is an American creation. However, because America's first professional team was actually formed in 1885, this theory cannot be proven true by this evidence alone.
The word "soccer" first appeared in the year 1863 in a publication called "Sporting Magazine". It was here that the game was described as such for the first time. Before this date, it was variously called "football", "football", or "rugger".
It is believed that the term "soccer" was used by Americans to describe the game because it was thought to be a form of public entertainment similar to baseball. This is confirmed by an article published in the New York Tribune in 1880 which stated that "Football is played in America much in the same way as soccer is played in Europe."
Finally, it must be noted that the word "football" is used interchangeably with "soccer" in Britain and America. So, even if one country calls their version of the sport "football", the other country will still call theirs "soccer".
There are several terms in use today that are different from what they were earlier.
Football and soccer are the only two sports in which fans are continuously arguing over the championship. Football is a moniker that varies more than anything else based on geographical area. Football in the United States is not the same as football in the United Kingdom. Even within the US, California people call the sport "American football", while New Yorkers call it "Gridiron football".
In England, Australia, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, and Zambia, the game is known as soccer. In Africa, there are several different names for the game including futbal (The Netherlands), footbola (Nigeria), futsal (Cape Verde) and shinty (Scotland).
In truth, the term is entirely British in origin. As a result, the game played according to the Football Association's regulations became known as "association football." The names would inevitably be abbreviated. So, "football" came to mean the United States version of the sport.
The first written reference to the word "football" occurs in a book published in 1823. The author, Henry William Hobson, described the sport then played in Britain and Ireland as "the football game." Within a few years, the word had become widely used throughout Great Britain and Ireland to describe the game itself rather than its rules or methods. It was during this time that it began to be used in America.
The earliest reference to the word "soccer" comes from the same source as "football": A Book of Sports. This work was written by an English clergyman named Richard Adams. He introduced the word in 1847. Before then, "soccer" did not exist. Instead, people simply referred to the game as "football."
For example, gridiron football is popular in Canada, Gaelic football is popular in Ireland, and Australian rules football is popular in Australia (which is derived from rugby). Soccer is usefully specific in situations where football might be unclear.
If you're wondering if it's a British (rather than English) word, the answer is no. Nobody refers to soccer as "soccer." "Football," they say. The term is largely used in the United States and Canada. Maybe, but the game isn't named soccer in the United Kingdom. Football is the term used in the United Kingdom, and no Englishman in his right mind would use the term "soccer" as it is used in the United States.
For example, gridiron football is popular in Canada, Gaelic football is popular in Ireland, and Australian rules football is popular in Australia (which is derived from rugby). Soccer is usefully specific in situations where football might be unclear.
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