History of football
Football has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The earliest references to football-like games come from various parts of the world, where different ball games were played that can be considered the precursors of modern football.
Ancient Ball Games
During the Han Dynasty in China (206 BC – 220 AD), a game called cuju was played, in which players kicked a leather ball filled with feathers or hair to pass it through an opening in a silk net. This game was part of military training and a form of entertainment. Similar games appeared in Japan under the name kemari, where the ball was kept in the air among players standing in a circle.
In ancient Greece and Rome, games such as episkyros and harpastum involved ball manipulation and team cooperation. These games were often played in military camps and served both recreational and training purposes.
Medieval and Early Modern Period
In medieval Europe, ball games were popular and played in towns and villages during festivals. These games often had no fixed rules, involved a large number of players, and were known for their rough nature.
In England, such games were called mob football, often leading to property damage and injuries, which resulted in repeated bans by authorities. Despite this, these games were an essential part of cultural heritage and laid the groundwork for the later development of organized football.
Formation of Modern Football
Modern football began to take its current form in 19th-century England. In 1863, The Football Association (FA) was founded, establishing the first unified rules of the game, which definitively separated football from rugby. This step led to the standardization of the game and its rapid expansion to other countries.
The first international football match took place in 1872 between England and Scotland. In 1888, The Football League was established, becoming the world’s first professional football league, which laid the foundation for the league football system.
Globalization of Football
During the 20th century, football became the most popular sport worldwide. In 1904, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded, which today governs international football competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, first held in 1930.
With the development of media, television broadcasting, and player professionalism, football evolved not only into a sport but also into a cultural and economic phenomenon that connects people across continents.
Sources:
Goldblatt, D. (2008). The ball is round: A global history of football. Penguin Books.
Fédération Internationale de Football Association. (n.d.). FIFA official website. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.fifa.com/en