Soccer, as we know it today, started to take shape in the mid-19th century. The rules were first standardized in 1863 in England, which is often considered the official start of modern soccer.

The first version of modern soccer was officially invented in England in the mid 19th century and was called football. However, there are records of an old Chinese game called Tsu-Chu (meaning “Kicking the ball”) played as far back as 206 B.C. thought to be played as a training exercise for soldiers.