Soccer

Soccer is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each, commonly referred to as football outside of North America. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting a spherical ball into the opposing team’s net, using primarily the feet, although players can use any part of their body except their arms and hands, which are restricted to the goalkeepers within their penalty area. Soccer is governed by the Laws of the Game established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and is regulated at the international level by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). The sport is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end, and matches typically consist of two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with stoppage time added at the referee’s discretion. Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide, known for its passionate fanbase and cultural significance in many countries.