Soccer vs Football: What’s The Difference?
If you’ve wondered whether it’s “football” or “soccer,” you’re not alone. Both terms usually refer to the same sport—the one played at events like the FIFA World Cup. Which one people use depends on where they live. Most of the world calls it “football,” while the United States, Canada, Australia, and a few other countries primarily use “soccer” to avoid confusion with their own local versions of football.
So why does the same sport have two different names? The answer lies in the history of the game and the way different countries adopted the terminology.
Key takeaways
- “Football” and “soccer” are the same sport, the one played at the FIFA World Cup and similar events. The name just depends on where you are.
- “Soccer” comes from 19th-century England as a shorthand for “association football,” but “football” went on to dominate globally.
- Most of the world says “football.” The US, Canada, Australia, and a handful of other countries say “soccer” to set it apart from their own versions of the game.
Why do some people call football “soccer” (and vice versa)?
The term “soccer” originated in 19th-century England as a short version of “association football,” distinguishing it from other popular football games.
When the Football Association codified the rules of the game in the late 1800s, the term “association football” stuck and helped distinguish it from “rugby football.” British university students came up with the slang terms “rugger” (for rugby) and “assocer”/“soccer” for association football, which quickly spread beyond campus.
Today, however, “soccer” is more of a nickname in the UK, and usually it’s called “football.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, Americans became increasingly enthralled by a sport that combined elements from both association football and rugby. It was known as “gridiron football,” but most people simply called it “football.” To avoid confusion, American association football players gradually adopted “soccer” to refer to their sport.
Thus, even though some people think “soccer” is an Americanism, it’s a British term that went on to have a more successful career outside its country of origin.
Is soccer the same as football?
That depends on where in the world you learned your English. For American English speakers, “football” is the sport you play with an elongated, oval-shaped ball. Despite its name, the game involves less kicking and more passing with the hands.
So, in the United States and Canada, football usually refers to American football. What is called “soccer” in North America is called “football” by most of the rest of the world, including British English speakers.
Which countries say “soccer” and which “football”?
The vast majority of the world, including Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa, uses the word “football” or its local translations (e.g., “fútbol” in Spanish or “Fußball” is German). Countries with their own forms of football, such as Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, often use the term “soccer” in everyday language to avoid confusion with sports like Gaelic football, Australian Rules football, or rugby.
| Primary term | Country / Region | How it’s used in daily life |
|---|---|---|
| Soccer | United States, Canada | Used exclusively. “Football” refers to gridiron (American/Canadian football). |
| Soccer (informal)
Football (official context) |
Ireland | “Soccer” is common in everyday speech to distinguish it from Gaelic football. “Football” is also used in official and administrative contexts (e.g., the Football Association of Ireland). |
| Soccer (informal)
Football (official context) |
Australia, New Zealand | “Soccer” is commonly used in everyday speech to avoid confusion with Australian Rules football and rugby codes. However, governing bodies now use “football” (e.g., Football Australia, New Zealand Football). |
| Football | United Kingdom | Used exclusively in everyday language. “Soccer” (a British-origin slang shortening of “association”) is now rare in modern British usage. |
| Local translations | Rest of the world | Most countries use native terms rather than English words, such as fútbol (Spanish), Fußball (German), futebol (Portuguese), or ποδόσφαιρο (Greek). |
In international sports communication, “football” is the standard global term, even when local languages use completely different words.
Frequently asked questions about soccer vs football
- What came first, soccer or football?
-
“Football” came first. In England, the term has been used since the 1400s to describe various ball games. Later, in the 19th century, the sport we know today was originally called “association football,” and the term “soccer” was derived from that (assoc. → assocer → soccer). Over time, “football” became the dominant term in most countries, while “soccer” remained in use mostly in North America.
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- Why is American football called football if they don’t use their feet?
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American football inherited its name from earlier football games played in Britain, such as rugby football and association football. Historically, “football” was an umbrella term for games played on foot, rather than on horseback. Although the modern American version evolved to allow carrying and passing the ball by hand, it kept the name because of its roots.
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