Secret About Why Is Soccer Called Soccer In The US? The English Are Annoyed By The Word They Came Up With Themselves

Why Is Soccer Called Soccer In The US?

 

Historical excursion.

In the USA and a number of other countries (for example, in Australia), the football we are used to is called “soccer”. This word in relation to the classic game is perceived by the British almost as sacrilege, for fans from other countries this name is at least strange and cutting ears.

Who came up with the word “soccer” and why do Americans use it, and why is football called a game in which it is forbidden to play with your feet? Let’s figure it out.

American football and soccer

 

American football is not played with the feet, so a logical question arises – why do “foot” and “ball” appear in its name? And why then is classic football (where they really play with their feet) called soccer?

Game in women’s football: 3 own goals from the best defender – left, right and head.  She was immediately replaced

Game in women’s football: 3 own goals from the best defender – left, right and head. She was immediately replaced

The answer is in history. American football was created as a form of rugby (where you kick the ball). It was rugby that gained particular popularity in the United States in the second half of the 19th century. American football originated from him. In England itself, the separation of football and rugby occurred at about the same time – only towards the end of the century did these two sports completely differentiate. Before that, both classic football and rugby were called the same – “football”. Different associations played this game according to different rules, which were similar. The same thing happened in America, because the name “American football” as a kind of game brought by the British seemed quite logical.

In 1863, the Football Association of London was created, which approved the rules for classic football – Association Football. At the same time, a new name was invented for classic football – soccer. Interestingly, it was not the Americans who came up with it, but the British themselves. Fans and the press called classic football “assoc” (a derivative of association) for simplicity, and in the 1880s they added the suffix “-er” and eventually received the word “soccer”.

 

Why is soccer called “soccer” in the US?

 

It’s all about the spread of these sports. It so happened that in America the more popular game in the 19th century was rugby. From it originated American football, which became the most common type of team game in the country. Actually, calling it “American” soon became unnecessary, because since then this adjective has ceased to be used – it’s easier to call it football. The football popularity map (average number of footballers per 1,000 people) shows that the sport is less popular in North America than in Europe. Therefore, “football” on these continents is called the more common games here.

 

Map of the popularity of football in different countries of the world

Moreover, the word “soccer” was invented by the British themselves and actively used it along with “football” to refer to the same game. Only by the middle of the 20th century did the British begin to disparage the word “soccer”, considering it to be Americanism. It’s gotten to the point where people who call football “soccer” are treated with disdain and sometimes contempt by fans in Britain.

For More Updates Click Here.