Soccer

Soccer, also known as football in most countries outside North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting a spherical ball into the opposing team’s net, primarily using any part of the body except the hands and arms, with the exception of the goalkeepers who can handle the ball within their penalty area. The game is played on a rectangular field, typically referred to as a pitch, with a goal at each end.

Soccer is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) at the international level, and it is one of the most popular and widely followed sports globally, characterized by its fast pace and strategic play. The game consists of two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with a halftime interval. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the match ends in a tie, it may go into extra time or a penalty shootout, depending on the rules of the competition. Soccer culture encompasses a wide variety of social, cultural, and entertainment aspects, making it an integral part of many nations’ identities.