Football is a contact sport in which players attempt to advance the ball forward towards their opponent’s goal. They do this by dribbling, passing the ball to teammates and taking shots. In most games, two teams compete in one match, while in some variations, the teams are divided into three. The goal is to score more goals than the opponent in a 90-minute playing time.
Although football has ancient roots, it is believed to have originated in England and western Europe. This was largely due to the industrialization of the country. As a result, working-class residents needed new forms of leisure. Many had Saturday afternoons off and began to play football as a form of recreation. In order to make the game more widely available, key urban institutions facilitated the creation of working-class football teams.
In the United Kingdom, football became an Olympic sport in 1908. It has since been played at every Summer Games. The sport is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which oversees the FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious international football competition. This competition is held every four years and is watched by millions of people worldwide, almost twice as many as the Summer Olympics.
Football involves four phases, each lasting approximately 15 minutes. The goal of the game is to move the ball into the opponent’s ‘end zone’. This is done by running or passing the ball down the field. On fourth down, a team can either kick a field goal or punt. In the end, the team that scores the most points usually wins the game.