Football is followed by millions of fans around the world, but in the United States and Canada it is commonly referred to as “soccer” — a difference that often sparks debate among sports fans, especially during global tournaments like the FIFA World Cup 2026, which both countries are hosting.
The term “soccer” has historical roots that date back to 19th-century England, when the sport was officially called “association football” to distinguish it from rugby football. Over time, the shortened term “soccer” emerged from this formal name.
How the word “soccer” originated
According to sports historian Stephen Szyszmanski, the term was widely used in England in the early days and remained in common usage until the 1970s. He explains that Oxford University students had a trend of shortening words and adding “-er” endings, which contributed to the evolution of informal language.
From “association,” the middle syllable “soc” was adapted into “soccer,” following the same linguistic pattern used in words like “rugger” for rugby.
Historical records show that the term “soccer” was already in written use by the 1880s.
Why it remained in North America
Over time, “soccer” became more common in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the U.S., the word “football” became associated with American football, a separate sport influenced by rugby and football traditions.
Meanwhile, most of the world adopted “football” as the standard term, while “soccer” gradually declined in usage in Britain, though it was never completely absent.
Today, both terms continue to exist, reflecting a shared historical origin but different regional sporting cultures.
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