Soccer

Soccer, known as football in most countries outside North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. It is played on a rectangular field, known as a pitch, with a goal at each end. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting the soccer ball into the opposing team’s net. Players primarily use their feet to move the ball and can use any part of their body except their arms and hands to control it; only the goalkeeper is allowed to use their hands and only within the penalty area.

The game is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Matches are typically played in two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute halftime interval. The team that scores the most goals during the match wins. If the match ends in a tie, depending on the competition, it may lead to extra time or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

Soccer is one of the most widely played and watched sports globally, celebrated for its competitive nature and ability to unite fans from diverse backgrounds.