Why our sport is important

  For anyone wondering what is the most popular sport in the world, the answer is soccer. Outside of the United States, soccer is played by most nations around the world

 

The World Popularity of Football Football is the undisputed answer to the question what is the most popular sport in the world? It's very popular. It is  estimated that more than half of the world's population describes themselves as football fans.During the 2014 World Cup, more than 3.9 billion people watched a game one or more times during the tournament. All major search engines receive hundreds of millions of football-related searches every year. Not only does football have the most fans, it also has the most players. More children and adults worldwide play  both recreational and competitive football than any other sport.It is estimated that there are over 250 million players from over 200 different countries.
 
 Soccer Basics  Soccer is a fairly simple sport with two teams of 11 players  and two goals, one at each end of the field. The ultimate goal of the game is to get the ball past the opposing team's defenders and into your own goal. This sport is commonly referred to as soccer because it is played primarily with the feet. The only players on the field who are allowed to touch the ball with their hands are the goalkeepers.However, according to the rules, any player is allowed to touch the ball with any other part of the body, including the head and chest. The sport is usually played on a grass  or artificial grass pitch. Most football matches last 90 minutes  and  are divided into two 45-minute halves. Many recreational games or games played by children are 60 minutes long and made up of two 30-minute halves.
 
 Soccer Equipment Equipment for playing soccer is simple, which is why it is such a popular sport.The main items needed are a ball and two goals. Standard soccer balls are lightweight and typically made from a cotton/polyester blend stretched over an air-filled bladder. Soccer is a contact sport as players often engage in physical contact while playing. However, it is not a collision sport and most contacts between players do not result in injury. Shin guards are the most commonly worn protective gear when playing football.These are protective caps, usually made of plastic, that protect players' shins  from damage caused by  other players' missed kicks.
 
  History of Football The origins of football date back more than 2,000 years to ancient China. But Rome, Greece and parts of Central America also claim to have been pioneers of the sport. Modern football was born in England. The British are credited with creating a set of universal rules that are still used around the world today.Soccer has been an official Olympic sport since 1900.