Soccer

Soccer, known as football in most countries outside North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting a spherical ball into the opposing team’s net, primarily using any part of the body except the hands and arms; only the goalkeeper is allowed to use their hands within the penalty area. The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end, and it follows a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, which are maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Soccer is one of the most popular sports globally, characterized by its emphasis on skill, teamwork, and strategy. The game is typically played in two halves of 45 minutes each, with the team scoring the most goals declared the winner. If the score is tied, it may result in a draw or proceed to extra time or penalties, depending on the competition rules. Soccer is governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which organizes major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.