WEBLinguistically creative students at the University of Oxford in the 1880s distinguished between the sports of “rugger” (rugby football) and “assoccer” (association football). The latter term was further shortened …

WEBThe word soccer comes from a slang abbreviation of the word association, which British players of the day adapted as “assoc,” “assoccer” and eventually soccer or soccer football.

WEBThe question of who invented soccer (or football) is a complicated one. Explore how this popular game developed and spread over the years.

WEBFootball (or soccer as the game is called in some parts of the world) has a long history. Football in its current form arose in England in the middle of the 19th century. But alternative versions of the game existed much …

WEBThe word “soccer” originated in England, and was originally used to differentiate association football from its rugby cousin. Just as rugby football was shortened to “rugger”, the game of association football became …

WEBGiovanni Navaro Cornelio, 30, (left) and Arturo Sanchez, 32, play ulama in Teotihuacán, Mexico. The ancient ball game—which the Mayans are believed to have played some 3,500 years ago—is a...