This is a list of FUN and INTERESTING soccer facts.
On this list, youโll find the most interesting facts about soccer including:
- History of soccer
- Interesting rules and regulations in soccer
- Records and statistics
- Fun facts about famous players
- And more
So if youโre looking for some amazing soccer facts and want to increase your soccer knowledge, youโre in the right place.
Letโs dive right in.
Interesting Facts About the History of Soccer
1. Soccer Originated in China
China invented the earliest form of soccer during the Han Dynasty (206 BC โ 220 AD).
The game was called Cuju or Tsโu-chรผ (่นด้ ). In Cuju, two teams tried to kick a ball through an opening. The team with the most points won the game.
Like soccer, Cuju players were not allowed to use their hands.
One major difference was that the ball could not touch the ground. This made Cuju more like the modern game of hacky-sack.
2. The Ancient Greek Game of Episkyros was similar to Soccer
The ancient Greeks played a ball game much like soccer, called Episkyros.
In Episkyros, the players could control the ball using both their feet and hands. So the game also has a likeness to modern-day rugby or American football.
We donโt know much about the exact rules of the game. But we do know that it was a team game that could get violent as well.
The Romans also played a similar game called Harpastum.
3. The UEFA Euro Trophy has a carving of a Greek athlete playing Episkyros
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens contains a vase depicting a Greek athlete balancing a ball on his thigh. Experts say that the athlete is playing the game of Episkyros.
Because of Episkyrosโ likeness to soccer, that image is also carved on the UEFA Euros trophy.
4. Mob Football is the closest ancestor of soccer
In medieval Europe, large groups of people participated in various forms of informal soccer games. Mob football is the closest ancestor to modern-day soccer.
But mob football wasnโt a single game. Every village had different rules and different names for the game. So it was more of a term used to describe similar games played across medieval Europe.
Mob football is also known as folk football and Shrovetide football (based on the locality).
How exactly was the game played? Well, it was chaotic, to say the least (as you can tell from the name โmobโ).
Entire villages played the game of kicking a ball across miles of terrain until a team scored a goal. The game could go on for a whole day. Hence, players dropped out due to fatigue.
5. The First Official Soccer Rules were established in 1848
A group of students at Cambridge University came together in 1848 to develop a set of 11 rules for soccer. These rules came to be known as the โCambridge Rulesโ.
Some of the โCambridge Rulesโ were:
- No player is allowed to loiter between the ball and the adversariesโ goal
- Holding a player, pushing with the hands, or tripping up are not allowed
- Any player may prevent another from getting to the ball by any means consistent with the above rules
- Every match shall be decided by a majority of goals
- Only the goalkeeper is allowed to hold the ball
- The goalkeeper can punch the ball from anywhere in his own half
- Goal kicks and throw-ins take place when the ball goes out of play
6. Sheffield Football Club is the oldest soccer club in the world
Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC is the oldest professional soccer club in the world.
There were other clubs before Sheffield FC but theyโre not considered as they werenโt independent bodies.
Sheffield FC is the oldest independent soccer club, meaning itโs not affiliated with an institution like a school, hospital, or university.
The team currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One East โ the 7th tier of English soccer pyramid.
7. The Football Association (FA) was founded in 1863
English soccer clubs met in London to lay the foundation of the Football Association (FA) on October 26, 1863.
The FA standardized soccer rules all across England. It is the primary soccer body of England to this day.
8. The FA Cup is the oldest active soccer tournament in the world
The English Football Association (FA) founded the FA Cup in 1871. In this tournament, teams from across the English soccer pyramid compete for the trophy.
The FA Cup was initially open only to amateur clubs. But it gradually incorporated professional teams and evolved into a national tournament.
It continues to be a highly anticipated event where the lower-tier clubs are given the chance to challenge Premier League giants, often creating moments of magic.
9. Dresden English was the first soccer club outside Britain
Dresden English FC was formed in 1874 by English residents in Dresden, Germany. It was the first soccer club to be formed outside Britain.
But the club didnโt last long, as it was disbanded in 1898.
10. British Sailors and Diplomats Spread Soccer to Different Parts of the World
British sailors, traders, and diplomats played a crucial role in spreading soccer to different parts of the world during the 19th century.
They helped spread the game through schools, the military, and the railways of their colonies.
11. The first official international soccer match was played in 1872
Scotland played against England in the first official international soccer match. The match was played in Glasgow, Scotland on November 30th, 1872.
4,000 excited spectators showed up to watch the game. But it did not live up to the hype as the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
12. Early soccer balls were made of leather and animal bladders
Early soccer balls were a far cry from the sleek spheres we see on the pitch today.
The core of the ball was made from a pigโs or a cowโs bladder. Sounds disgusting I know. But these bladders were surprisingly bouncy and lightweight. This made them perfect for kicking around.
The craftsmen made the outer layer of the ball from leather. This added a protective shield around the bladder and made the ball durable. It also added a controlled spherical shape to the ball.
As you can imagine, these soccer balls were far from perfect. So the soccer bodies needed to innovate, and rubber was later introduced.
13. FIFA was founded in 1904
On May 21st, 1904, several soccer associations formed The Fรฉdรฉration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in Paris.
FIFAโs founding members were:
- Belgium
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Spain (represented by Madrid FC)
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Soccer was growing in popularity, and needed a standardized set of rules. It also needed an organization to organize competitionsย and settle disputes.
Hence, the associations created FIFA to tackle these problems.
14. Soccer is a British term
Despite the modern British fans not liking the term, soccer originated in England.
Two types of football games existed in England: โrugby footballโ and โassociation footballโ.
Association football was a long term to use in every single conversation. So university students at Oxford shortened it to โassoccerโ.
โAssoccerโ was then further shortened to โsoccerโ.
So the next time someone tells you that itโs football, not soccer. You can point them back to this fact.
Read all about the origins and use of the word soccer.
15. Soccer made its Olympic debut in the 1900 Paris Olympics
Soccer entered the Olympic stage in 1900 at the Paris Olympics. It was initially treated as an exhibition sport (not an official one).
It wasnโt a great start. Only three clubs from three nations participated in the tournament.
But soccer returned as an official sport in the 1908 London Games. And this time it featured national teams.
16. World War 1 was paused because of soccer
Sometimes soccer is more important than war.
During Christmas of 1914, soldiers on both sides of World War I laid down their arms for a game of soccer in no manโs land.
This match was later called the โTruce Matchโ.
17. The first FIFA World Cup took place in 1930
The inaugural FIFA World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay. This was a significant moment in soccer history. After the success of the World Cup, soccer became a more professional and global sport.
It was also a special year for Uruguay as the country was celebrating its 100th independence anniversary.
13 teams participated in the tournament through invitation from the organizers.
The hosts, Uruguay, won the first World Cup by defeating Argentina 4-2 in the final.
But they didnโt just win the tournament, they also dominated. Uruguay won all four of their matches including the final.
18. Television has played a huge role in popularizing soccer
Before television, the only way to follow a soccer match was in the stadium or on the radio. Televised soccer matches made it easy for global audiences to watch their favorite teams in action.
It also broke the geographical barriers. Now you can follow a La Liga or Serie A game while sitting in the US.
But televised matches werenโt only beneficial for the audience. It helped the clubs and leagues as well.
Increased viewership led to higher advertising revenue. This meant that clubs and leagues had the funds to invest in infrastructure, player development, and more.
Cultural Facts About Soccer
19. Soccer is the Most Popular Sport in the World
This isnโt a surprise to anyone. Soccer is the most popular sport globally.
An estimated 3.5 billion fans from all around the world tune in to watch soccer matches. Soccer is also played in almost every country in the world.
20. 265 Million players play professional soccer
Yes, you heard that right.
Soccer has approximately 265 million registered players worldwide. This is more than any other sport.
21. FIFA World Cup attracts billions of viewers
The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world.
According to FIFA, almost 1.5 billion viewers tuned in to watch the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France.
22. The first Womenโs soccer game was played in 1881
In 1881, Scotland womenโs team played against England womenโs team in the first ever womenโs soccer match.
But womenโs soccer would not gain traction for the next several decades. Womenโs soccer faced significant opposition and restrictions from the soccer associations.
The FA even banned womenโs matches on its grounds in 1902.
23. Womenโs soccer is growing every year
Soccer isnโt only a menโs game anymore. Womenโs soccer is growing heaps and bounds every year.
The 2023 FIFA Womenโs World Cup was the biggest example. It set an attendance record of 1.978 million fans watching the matches in stadiums. This was 40% higher than the pre-tournament estimates.
The NWSL in the US also saw a 20% increase in season-ticket holders from 2022 to 2023. The regular-season attendance was over 1.2 million.
24. Soccer Jerseys have become a fashion statement
Soccer jerseys are not just equipment worn on a pitch anymore. Theyโve become a part of the fashion world.
You mightโve heard of โBlokecoreโ. If you havenโt, then let me tell you about it.
Blokecore is a recent fashion trend on social media. It revolves around a hyper-casual, relaxed aesthetic inspired by British culture.
It involves wearing a vintage soccer jersey paired with jeans or trainers. People also accessorize it with items like beanies, bucket hats, or simple gold chains.
Check out our list of the Coolest Soccer Jerseys of All Time.
25. Soccer is used as a tool for diplomacy
As the biggest sport in the world, soccer isnโt just a sport anymore. It has become much more than that.
Nations have used soccer to bridge divides and foster understanding with other nations.
For example, The โDiplomacy through Footballโ initiative uses soccer to promote peace in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Colombia.
Then in Rwanda, they used soccer to bring together Hutus and Tutsis after the deadly civil war in 1994.
Facts About Soccer Fields and Stadiums
26. Different soccer fields have different sizes
A soccer pitch doesnโt have exact dimensions. Instead, a soccer fieldโs dimensions can lay within a specified range.
The pitch can be 100 โ 130 yards (90 โ 120 meters) long and 50 โ 100 yards (45 โ 90 meters) wide. So anything between these dimensions works.
27. The biggest soccer stadium is in North Korea
Yep. The biggest soccer stadium is not in the US, the UK, or Brazil. Itโs in North Korea.
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea is the biggest soccer stadium in the world. It has a capacity of 114,000 seats, making it the undisputed leader in seating capacity.
The second biggest soccer stadium is Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. It has a seating capacity of 99,354.
28. Wembley Stadium has the longest roof structure in the world
Officials recognize the roof structure of Wembley Stadium as the longest single-span roof in the world. It spans a length of 315 meters in the shape of an arc along the stadium.
This iconic arch-shaped structure supports the entire northern roof and 60% of the southern roof.
29. Singapore has the worldโs largest floating stadium
A stadium that floats. I never thought Iโd see such a thing. But Singapore has made it a reality.
The Float at Marina Bay, also known as the Marina Bay Floating Platform, is a truly special stadium in Singapore. Itโs the worldโs largest floating stadium.
The Float offers soccer with a stunning view of the Singapore skyline. You can watch soccer while looking at the picturesque and iconic backdrop.
Who wouldnโt want to enjoy a game of soccer there?
30. 199,854 spectators attended the 1950 FIFA World Cup Final
The 1950 FIFA World Cup Final holds the record for the highest attendance at a soccer match.
199,854 soccer fans attended the game at the Maracanรฃ Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The final was played between Brazil (also the hosts) and Uruguay.
But Uruguay won the match 2-1, leaving the home fans disappointed.
31. The Highest Soccer Stadium is in Bolivia
Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia is the highest soccer stadium in the world. The stadium is located at 3,600 meters above sea level.
As you can imagine, it gets tough for players to breathe at such a height. Thatโs why visiting teams often struggle when playing at Estadio Hernando Siles.
Interesting Facts About Soccer Players
32. Pele is the only player to win 3 World Cups
Pele is the only soccer player to win three World Cups. He won it in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
33. There was a ceasefire in the Nigerian Civil War to watch Pele
Pele was touring Africa with his club Santos in 1969.
At the same time, Nigeria had a civil war going on since 1967.
Santos had to play an exhibition match in Benin City, Nigeria. So, to watch him play, the two sides in the war declared a 48-hour ceasefire.
This incident turned Pele into more than just a soccer player. He was now an icon.
34. Diego Maradona scored a goal with his hand
Diego Maradona was one of the bad boys of soccer. And no incident is a better example than the one where he used his hand to score a goal.
Maradona scored the goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals.
In the 51st minute of the game, he jumped to head the ball. But instead of his head, he used his hands to guide the ball into the back of the net.
The goal has become the most iconic goal in soccer history. It was later termed, aptly, as the โHand of Godโ.
35. Diego Maradona scored the โGoal of the Centuryโ
Scoring with the โHand of Godโ was not enough for Maradona. So he went and scored the โGoal of the Centuryโ in the same match.
For that goal, Maradona dribbled past five English defenders before scoring a solo goal.
If not with his cunning, Maradona could win you matches with his brilliance. A win-win situation.
36. Lionel Messi has won the most Ballon dโOr awards
Lionel Messi will go down as the greatest soccer player to ever live. I mean, the awards speak for themselves.
Messi has won the Ballon dโOr (award for best soccer player of the year), a record 8 times.
Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the list with 5 awards.
37. Justin Fashanu was the first soccer player to come out as gay
Justin Fashanu was a British soccer player who played for top clubs like Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, and Manchester City.
In 1990, Fashanu became the first soccer player to openly come out as gay. In a deeply homophobic era, it wasnโt made easy for him.
He faced immense backlash from fans, media, and even some within the soccer world. The hostility hurt his mental health and career.
Despite this, Fashanu did not stop advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in sports. His tragic story became a spark that paved the way for more openness and acceptance in sports.
38. Didier Drogba played a huge part in stopping the Civil War in Ivory Coast
In 2002, a civil war broke out in Ivory Coast, lasting for five years and causing widespread devastation.
Didier Drogba was a prominent figure and the captain of the Ivory Coast national team. And he made the most of the platform given to him.
In 2005, after Ivory Coast qualified for the 2006 World Cup, Drogba made an emotional plea to the warring factions on national television.
He knelt, tears in his eyes, and implored them to lay down their arms for the sake of the nation and its children.
Drogbaโs message hit a nerve as the ceasefire agreement was signed a few months later. It paved the way for peace talks and elections in the country.
39. Sir Stanley Matthews was the first soccer player to be knighted
In 1965, Sir Stanley Matthews became the first soccer player to be knighted. Queen Elizabeth II bestowed knighthood upon Sir Stanley for his services to soccer.
He also remains the only soccer player to be knighted while still actively playing the game.
Amazing Records in Soccer
40. Gavin Strokes holds the record for the fastest goal ever scored
Gavin Strokes scored the fastest goal in soccer in just 2.1 seconds. He was playing for Maryhills Junior against Clydebank in the SJFA West Region Championship in Scotland.
Strokes took a shot directly from the kick-off and the ball found its way to the back of the net.
41. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most goals in professional soccer
This is a topic of great debate. You can never know for sure how many goals were scored by a player in Peleโs era.
So if weโre talking about the officially counted goals then Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record of most goals scored with 873 goals.
Pele was previously credited with 1,279 goals but a lot of his goals were disputed. Discounting the goals in friendly matches, Peleโs goal tally now stands at 762 goals.
Read more fun facts about Cristiano Ronaldo
42. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most international goals
Cristiano Ronaldo currently reigns supreme in international soccer with 128 goals for Portugal.
There isnโt much competition as the only active player behind him is Lionel Messi with 106 for Argentina.
43. Lionel Messi holds the record for most goals scored for a single club
Lionel Messi spent 17 years at Barcelona scoring goals for fun. And it shows in his goal scoring record.
Messi holds the record for most goals scored for a single club with 672 goals for Barcelona.
44. Christine Sinclair holds the record for most international goals in womenโs soccer
Christine Sinclair from Canada holds the record for most international goals in womenโs soccer. She has scored an impressive 190 goals in 328 games for the Canadian national team.
Abby Wambach held the previous record with 184 goals for the United States national team.
45. Kevin De Bruyne holds the record for most assists in a single season
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City holds the record with 21 assists in a single season (2019-2020).
46. Brazil has won the most World Cup titles
Brazil is the royalty of international soccer. They sit at the top with five World Cup victories.
I mean, itโs no surprise, given the legendary teams and players Brazil has had.
47. AC Milan holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak
AC Milan holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak in soccer. They went 58 matches undefeated from 1991 to 1993.
48. Torino have scored the most goals in a single season
Torino holds the record for scoring the most goals in a major league in a single season. They scored a whopping 125 goals in the 1947/48 Serie A season.
Thanks to the goals, they also won the Serie A trophy.
49. Rogerio Ceni has scored the most goals as a Goalkeeper
Rogerio Ceni of Sรฃo Paulo FC scored a staggering 131 goals throughout his career. He usually scored from free kicks and penalties.
50. Gerardo Bedoya holds the record for the most red cards
Gerardo Bedoya, a Colombian player, earned a reputation for his aggressive playing style. Thatโs why he got the nickname โThe Beastโ.
This playing style has earned Bedoya the record for the most red cards in soccer history. He received 46 red cards in 601 matches.
51. Players who have never received a red card
Five players have never received a red card in their careers. These players are:
- Gary Lineker
- Andres Iniesta
- Philipp Lahm
- Michel Platini
- Karim Benzema
52. Gianluigi Buffon holds the record for most clean sheets
Gianluigi Buffon is an icon of the game. And the numbers donโt lie.
Buffon holds the record for most clean sheets in soccer history with 501 clean sheets.
On top of that, he also holds the record for the most clean sheets in a single season in Serie A history with 21 clean sheets.
53. The highest-scoring World Cup game had 12 goals
The highest-scoring World Cup match was Austriaโs 7-5 win over Switzerland in 1954. It was the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Both teams were strong favorites for the title, and they didnโt disappoint.
54. The highest-scoring soccer game ever had 149 goals
Yes. 149 goals! It isnโt a typo.
In 2002, AS Adema faced Stade Olympique de lโEmyrne (SOE) in the Madagascan Premier League. The final scoreline was AS Adema 149 โ 0 SOE.
But a bit of context.
AS Adema had already secured the league title and didnโt have much at stake.
On the other hand, SOE felt hard done by refereeing decisions in previous matches. They believed those decisions cost them the championship.
So instead of playing a competitive match,ย SOE decided to stage a unique and bizarre form of protest. The coach instructed his players to score own goals at every opportunity, leading to the incredible 149-0 scoreline.
55. The most red cards shown in a single match is 36
Claypole vs.ย Victoriano Arenas (Argentina,ย 5th Division),ย holds the official record for the most red cards in a match. The referee showed a staggeringย 36 red cardsย during the game.
But, arenโt there just 11 players in a team? That would mean a maximum of 22 red cards.
Well, the referee didnโt leave out coaches and substitutes either.
56. The most goals scored by a single player in a match is 16 goals
Stefan Dembicki holds the record for scoring the most goals in a single match with 16 goals.
In a Coupe de France match in 1942, Dembicki scored 16 goals for Lens against Auby Asturies. Lens won the game 32-0.
57. The longest soccer game was played for 173 minutes
The longest competitive soccer match was between Doncaster Rovers and Stockport County in 1943. This Division Three North Cup replay went on for a staggering 173 minutes.
You see, back then there were no penalty shootouts. So, the first goal after 90 minutes would decide the winner.
Neither team could find the back of the net. The game continued for almost 3 hours before Stockport County finally scored a goal.
58. Neymar is the most expensive player in soccer history
The transfer of Neymar from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 remains the most expensive transfer in soccer history.
PSG paid Barcelona a whopping โฌ222 million (ยฃ200 million) to sign Neymar.
Kylian Mbappe is the second-most expensive player in soccer. He was also signed by PSG for โฌ180 million (ยฃ163 million).
59. Mauricio Baldivieso is the youngest soccer player ever
Mauricio Baldivieso became the youngest professional soccer player at the age ofย 12 years and 10 months.
He made his debut in 2009 for Club Aurora in Bolivia.
But he didnโt turn out to be a child prodigy. Baldivieso only played a single game in his short career.
60. Kazuyoshi Miura is the oldest professional soccer player
Kazuyoshi Miura is the oldest player to play professional soccer at 56 years old. He currently plays for Oliveirense in the Portuguese Liga Portugal 2.
Miura began his professional career in 1986 and has played in Japan, Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia, and Portugal.
Some people argue that Isaak Hayik from Israel is the oldest soccer player at 76 years old. However the validity of the claim is a point of debate.
He had a short professional career and mainly played amateur soccer. So the question arises whether amateur-level soccer should count here or not.
You can decide for yourself.
Thank You For Reading
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