The Worldwide Origins: A Closer Look at the Start of Soccer

While some may argue that the origins of soccer (or football, as it's known outside of the United States) began in England in the mid-19th century, the truth is that variations of the game have existed for thousands of years across various cultures around the globe.

One of the earliest examples of a sport similar to soccer can be traced back to ancient China around the second century B.C. The game, known as Tsu' Chu, involved players trying to kick a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through a small opening. Notably, Tsu' Chu was often part of military training, showing that even early versions of the game required both physical and strategic prowess.

In Japan, a similar game is played known as Kemari that was developed around the same time as Tsu’ Chu. Unlike today’s fast-paced football, Kemari was less competitive and more ritualistic. The objective was to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible, with all players working together in a cooperative manner.

Moving to the Americas, native Mesoamerican cultures developed their own version of the game, referred to as Ulama or the Mesoamerican ballgame, around 1400 B.C. This game was intensely physical and even occasionally lethal, with heavy rubber balls and hoop-like goals set high up on vertical walls.

In ancient Greece, a game called Episkyros was played, which involved kicking a ball and running, much like modern soccer. Similarly, Romans played a game called Harpastum, which was adapted from the Greek game.

The development of soccer as we recognize it today can be traced back to England in the mid-19th century. The rules as codified in England around this time are the basis for the modern international rules of football.

In Africa, a game resembling football has been played for centuries as well. For example, in Somalia, a game called 'Gool' was traditionally played with teams of up to 20 players each aiming to score into the opponent’s goal.

While England may have given the game its modern form, it's clear that soccer has deep roots that have been planted in various cultures around the world. Each iteration, from Tsu' Chu to Ulama, has helped shape the game we know and love today. By acknowledging these various origins, we can truly appreciate the global appeal of soccer and how it continues to unify people across the globe regardless of cultural differences.

The precise origins of soccer are a point of extensive debate, and indeed, this alone could form an entire blog post. However, what's widely accepted is that versions of communal games involving a ball date back over 2,000 years. These games were found across different cultures, including the Chinese, Greek, Roman, and native Central American cultures, among others. These rudimentary variations of the game were not quite the soccer we know today, but they nevertheless planted the seeds for its evolution.

China is often credited with the earliest form of soccer, a game called 'Cuju' that emerged during the Han Dynasty around the 2nd or 3rd century BC. This game involved two teams trying to kick a leather ball into a net, not with their hands, but with their feet. Around the same time, Roman culture had a similar game known as 'Harpastum,' which was more physical and resembled more of a blend between soccer and rugby.

In pre-medieval times, England had a form of football known as 'Mob Football'. This communal game involved an unlimited number of players, could last for days, and was known to get so rowdy that it was often banned due to the chaos it caused. Despite this, mob football was popular and became a traditional event in many local communities.

The transformation from communal games to the formalized sport of soccer we recognize today began to take shape in the early 19th century. As schools in England started to incorporate football into their programs, the need for standardized rules became more apparent. This resulted in the codification of modern football, as we know it, in 1863 with the establishment of the Football Association in England. This marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of soccer and defined the game's fundamental rules, many of which remain in place today.

Over the next few decades, the game started to gain significant traction beyond England's borders. By the end of the 19th century, soccer had already reached other parts of Europe, South America, and Africa. It was around this time that FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, was formed, providing even more structure to the game and facilitating the standardization of rules globally.

The first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930 marked another key milestone in the evolution of soccer. It not only showcased the game at its highest level but also demonstrated soccer's capacity to unify diverse nations.