Soccer

Soccer, also 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 ball into the opposing team’s net. Players primarily use their feet to move the ball, although they can use any part of their bodies except their arms and hands; the only player allowed to handle the ball is the goalkeeper, who can use their hands within the penalty area.

The game is played on a rectangular field known as a pitch, which is typically grass or artificial turf, and it includes goalposts at each end. A standard match consists of two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with a 15-minute halftime break. The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins; if the score is tied, the game may end in a draw or go into extra time and possibly penalties, depending on the format of the competition.

Soccer is governed globally by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and is considered the world’s most popular sport, with millions of fans and players across the globe. It promotes values such as teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.