Many people ask why Americans say “soccer” and not “football.” Why Is It Soccer and Not Football? In most parts of the world, the sport is called football. But in the United States, it is called soccer. This might seem strange, but there is a good reason for it.
Where the Word “Soccer” Came From
The word “soccer” actually comes from England. In the 1800s, England had many types of football. Two main ones were rugby football and association football.
Association football had its own rules. These rules were made by the Football Association in 1863. To shorten the name “association football,” people started calling it “assoc.” Later, they added “-er” to the end, a popular trend in British slang. So “assoc” became “soccer.”
At the same time, rugby football was called “rugger.” These short names helped people tell the two games apart.
Why Americans Use “Soccer”
In the United States, a different sport became more popular. It is known as American football. This sport is played with helmets, pads, and an oval ball. Over time, people in the U.S. just called it “football.”
Because of this, Americans needed a different word for association football. Since the British already used the word “soccer,” Americans used it too. This helped people in the U.S. know which game was which.
Other Countries Use “Soccer” Too
The United States is not the only country that uses the word “soccer.” Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have used it too. These places also had other types of football, so “soccer” helped make things clear.
Over time, most of these countries started using “football” instead. But in the U.S., the word “football” stayed with American football.
Back in Britain
For many years, the British used the word “soccer” as well. It was not strange or wrong. In fact, it was common among students at top schools like Oxford. The word “soccer” appeared in British newspapers and books.
But things began to change in the 20th century. Association football became the main sport in the UK. People stopped using the word “soccer” and just called it “football.”
Now, some in Britain see “soccer” as an American word. But it really started in Britain itself.
Why the Name Matters
In the end, both names mean the same game. The word “football” is more common worldwide. But “soccer” is still a real word with a real history.
The name helps avoid confusion. In the U.S., “football” means a different sport. So using “soccer” makes things clearer.
It is not wrong to say “soccer.” It is just different. And it has a long story behind it.
Final Thoughts
The word “soccer” was born in England. It was made to tell it apart from rugby football. Americans kept the word because they had another game called football. Over time, the rest of the world chose “football” instead. But the U.S. stayed with “soccer.”
So next time you wonder why is it soccer and not football?
Is it’s soccer and not football in America, just remember—it started in Britain, not the U.S. And it still helps people know which game they’re talking about.
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