Modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century.

Football’s roots can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where various forms of ball games were played. The earliest recorded instances date as far back as 2500 BCE in ancient Egypt, where a game known as “Harpaston” involved teams competing to control a ball.

The Chinese were the first to get their kicks by kicking balls into nets for sport in the third century B.C., and the game known globally as football was formalized in England in the 19th century. But the predecessor of most modern ball games can be found in the Americas. (See vintage pictures of soccer players around the world.)