In The World Cup as World History, William D. Bowman explains that soccer didn’t come from just one place, even though many countries like to claim they invented it. Since soccer is the most popular sport in the world, it makes sense that people want credit for it. Bowman argues instead that kicking a ball is something humans have been doing for a very long time, no matter where they lived. Evidence of ball games similar to soccer have been found in ancient civilizations like China and Mesopotamia, showing that sports have always been part of human life.
One example Bowman gives is from China during the Han Dynasty. People played a game with two teams, goals, and a leather ball, and while players could move the ball in different ways, using their feet was the most common. Records show this game being played as early as 618 CE. Even though it wasn’t exactly soccer, it shows that organized kicking games existed long before modern sports.
Bowman also points out that similar games were played in Mesoamerica by groups like the Aztecs and the Maya. Archaeologists have found evidence that these kicking games were being played as far back as 1500 BCE and continued until the Aztec Empire collapsed. When Spanish explorers first saw these games, they were impressed by how fast and intense they were, especially because the rubber balls bounced more than anything used in Europe. Some Catholic clergy wrote about these games when they returned home, although they were also concerned about how violent and rowdy they seemed.
The version of soccer we recognize today, though, developed in England. Kicking games had been around there for centuries, but elite public schools began creating their own rules and styles of play. As more schools and clubs wanted to compete, it became clear that the game needed standard rules. This led to the creation of the Football Association in 1863, which officially set the rules for soccer.
After that, soccer exploded in popularity across England. Because England had strong connections with other countries through trade, politics, and culture, the sport spread quickly to Europe and beyond. Over time, soccer became the most popular sport in the world, which eventually led to global events like the World Cup.
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