Who Invented Football? Origins and Evolution of the King of Sports

Football , the world's most popular sport, fascinates with its history, simple rules, and cultural impact. But who really invented football ? Where did this game come from, and how does it attract billions of fans today? This article takes you on a journey through the origins of football, from ancient times to its modern form.

The ancestors of football: a centuries-old story

Ball games in antiquity

Long before modern football, ball games existed in many civilizations:

• In China , cuju (or tsu chu) was practiced as early as the 3rd century BC. This sport consisted of passing a ball around with the feet without using hands, in order to pass it through an opening.
• In ancient Greece and Rome , forms of ball games such as episkyros or harpastum combined physical contact and strategy, sometimes far removed from the football we know.

These ancient games share similarities, but none can be considered the "direct father" of modern football.

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Medieval football in Europe

During the Middle Ages, violent ball games called soules were played in France and England. These clashes between villages could last for hours, even days. There were few rules governing these games, but they marked a milestone in the popularization of ball games in Europe .

The birth of modern football in England

The central role of English schools

Modern football as we know it today originated in 19th century England . It was British public schools that began to formalize the rules to create a structured game. In 1863, the Football Association (FA) was formed in London.

It is this date that officially marks the birth of modern football , with the separation of rugby and the ban on carrying the ball in the hands.

The first rules of football

The first rules of football laid down by the FA included:

• The number of players (11 per team)
• The ban on touching the ball with the hands
• The presence of goals to score points
• The concept of offside

These rules, still in force in their broad outline, have allowed football to become a universal sport.

The rapid internationalization of football

From England to the rest of the world

In the late 19th century, football spread rapidly throughout Europe and then to South America thanks to British sailors, traders, and engineers. Countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Italy adopted the sport with enthusiasm.

The creation of FIFA and the first competitions

In 1904, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was created to regulate football worldwide. In 1930, the first World Cup was held in Uruguay, marking a major turning point in the history of the sport.

Conclusion: a sport with multiple roots, but an English birth

While many cultures have played forms of ball games, it was England that laid the foundations for modern football with clear rules and a structured organization. Today, this universal sport continues to evolve while bringing people together around a common passion .