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