| Football, or Soccer as it is known in
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| | Confederation of North, Central American
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| America, is the most popular team sport
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| | and Caribbean Association Football
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| played professionally and by amateurs
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| | (CONCACAF), Union of European Football
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| worldwide. Soccer players are revered as
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| | Association (UEFA), Oceania Football
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| icons and soccer teams sign millions of
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| | Confederation (OFC) and Confederacion
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| dollars as endorsement deals.
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| | Sudamaricana de Futbal (CONMEBOL
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| Soccer is a game between two teams of 11
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| | representing South America).
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| players, each trying to net the most
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| | Soccer trophies are awarded for matches
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| goals in the opposite sides goal post.
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| | of all sizes, from local playgrounds to
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| Players are forbidden to use their hands,
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| | huge stadiums packed with fans. The most
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| except for the goalkeeper, who can
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| | prestigious is the World Cup, organized
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| prevent a goal with his hands. So each
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| | by FIFA. It takes place every four
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| team tries to prevent the other from
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| | years, and about 190 national teams vie
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| scoring while trying to score itself. A
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| | to qualify to play the finals. The finals
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| standard match consists of two sessions
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| | now involve 34 national teams. Soccer has
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| of 45 minutes each, separated by a
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| | been a part of the Summer Olympics since
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| 15-minute break called half time. Extra
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| | 1900, except for the 1932 games in Los
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| time and penalty shootouts are allowed by
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| | Angeles. Currently, it is played at an
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| the referee under special circumstances
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| | under-23 level, so it is less prestigious
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| to decide an undecided match.
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| | than the World Cup. A womens football
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| Soccer is played professionally all over
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| | tournament was also started for the 1996
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| the world, in stadiums where millions of
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| | Olympics.
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| fans throng to watch a match. Such
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| | The major international tournaments are
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| matches are also watched on television.
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| | as follows: FIFA World Cup, European
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| Amateurs also play soccer. A survey by
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| | Championship, UEFA champions league, Copa
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| Federation Internationale De Football
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| | America, African Nations Cup, CAF
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| Association (FIFA soccers governing body)
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| | Champions League, Asian Cup, AFC
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| revealed that in 2001, over 240 million
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| | champions League, CONCACAF league and
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| people worldwide in more than 200
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| | championship cups and Oceania Nations
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| countries played the game.
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| | Cup.
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| Six regional confederations are
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| | Soccer trophies are made of metal,
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| associated with FIFA. These include the
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| | pewter, gold, silver or other materials,
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| Asian Football Confederation (AFC),
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| | and depict the shape of a soccer ball or
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| Confederation of African Football (CAF),
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| | a player in action.
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