Soccer originated from very early forms of ball-kicking games played in various ancient cultures, with the earliest evidence found in ancient China during the Han Dynasty (around 206 BC to 220 AD), where it was called "Cuju." Over time, similar games appeared in ancient Greece, Rome, and Central America. The modern version of soccer developed in England in the 19th century, particularly with the foundation of The Football Association (FA) in 1863, which standardized the rules and created the game as it is known today. Thus, while ancient forms of the game have deep roots worldwide, the modern standardized sport originated in England.
Early Origins
- Ancient China: Cuju, military exercise involving kicking a ball through a net (Han Dynasty, 206 BC - 220 AD).
- Ancient Greece and Rome: Ball games with leather balls filled with hair.
- Indigenous Central American games (Tlachtli) also included ball-kicking games.
Development of Modern Soccer
- Medieval "mob football" in England and Scotland, which was chaotic and loosely organized.
- Scotland may have early organized playing fields resembling modern soccer.
- The Football Association's founding in 1863 in England formalized the rules, banning carrying the ball and introducing the offside rule, thus creating modern soccer.
This blend of ancient kicking games and Victorian-era codification in England created the soccer known worldwide today.
