Soccer

Soccer, known as football in most countries outside of North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The objective is to score goals by getting a spherical ball into the opposing team’s net. The game is played on a rectangular field, known as a pitch, with a goal at each end. Players primarily use their feet to maneuver the ball, although they can also use other parts of their body except for their arms and hands; only the goalkeepers are allowed to handle the ball within their penalty area.

The match is divided into two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with a short halftime break in between. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If both teams score an equal number of goals, the game may end in a draw, or extra time and penalty shootouts may occur in tournament settings to determine a winner.

Soccer is governed internationally by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and is one of the world’s most popular sports, played and watched by millions of people globally. The sport is known for its rich history, various leagues, and international tournaments, such as the FIFA World Cup.