Football, in the USA also known as soccer.

It is a team sport played with a ball between two

teams of 11 players. Football is played by over 250 (two hundred and fifty) million players in
over 200 (two hundred) countries, which makes it the world's most popular sport. The game
is played on a rectangular field called a pitch with a goal at each end. The object of the game
is to outscore the opposition by moving the ball behind the goal line into the opposing goal.
The team with the higher number of goals wins the game. And, of course, except for
goalkeepers in penalty area and throwing in it must not be played by hand. A standard adult
football match consists of two-halves of 45 minutes each. Each half runs continuously,
meaning that the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play. There is usually a 15-
minute half-time break between halves. The end of the match is known as full-time. The
referee is the official timekeeper for the match, and may make an allowance for time lost
through substitutions, injured players requiring attention, or other stoppages.
The history of football can be traced back to the ancient times of the Greeks. Everyone knows
that the Greeks were great sportsmen and have invented many games.
Football happens to one of them. A similar game like football is played in many countries but the
latest version of football that we knew originates in England. And England also formulated the
first rule of the game.
Football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association
Football (shortly FIFA – abbreviation from French) which organises World Cups for both men
and women. Approximately 200 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments within
the scope of continental confederations for a place in the finals. The finals tournament,
which is held every four years, involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week
period. It is the most prestigious football tournament in the world as well as the most widely
viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding the Olympic Games. And for us
Europeans also a very prestigious UEFA European Football Championship known as Euro.
The most prestigious competition in club football is the UEFA Champions League which
attracts an extensive television audience throughout the world. The final of the tournament
has been, in recent years, the most-watched annual sporting event in the world. UEFA
Europa League is also a well-know competition. The top five European leagues are the
English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue
1.
Football is a game that millions of people around the world play and love. It can be called a
universal game because every small and big nation plays it.
If I had to specify football it’s a great relaxer, stress reliever, teacher of discipline and teamwork.
Apart from that, it keeps the body and mind fit and healthy. It’s a team game that makes it a
more enjoyable game as it teaches people the importance of sportsmanship. Leadership, and
unity.