Week 8 of the 2023-2024 season of American Football is upon us. Games have been lost to bad calls, players have been lost to injury, and millions have been lost from placing that last minute bet that you really thought was a "no brainer". If you're like many Americans, Football is the game of 4 downs, kicking a ball through a field goal and running and passing the ball 100 yards until you hopefully get that desired touchdown.
Now, the rest of the world...Why do you call it football? Don't you know that word was already taken in another sport! Do you ever wonder why? Here's why:
The United States’ use of the term “soccer” for what the rest of the world commonly calls “football” is a linguistic quirk with historical roots. The history of why Americans call the sport “soccer” is intertwined with the evolution of the game itself in the United States and linguistic shifts.
Origins of the Term “Soccer”:
The term “soccer” is derived from the word “association,” as in “Association Football.” In the 19th century, the sport of football was growing in popularity in the United Kingdom, and various forms of the game were played. To distinguish between different codes of football (like rugby football), people began adding suffixes to the word “football,” such as “rugger” for rugby and “soccer” for association football. The term “soccer” was initially more commonly used in the UK, where it was considered a proper and acceptable abbreviation.
The United States’ Early Involvement in Soccer:
Soccer, or association football, arrived in the United States in the late 19th century. Immigrants, primarily from Europe, brought the sport with them, and it began to gain popularity, especially in ethnic communities. The sport grew and led to the establishment of various soccer clubs and leagues across the country.
In the early 20th century, soccer was relatively popular in the United States, and the American Soccer League (ASL) was one of the strongest professional leagues in the world. However, in the 1920s and 1930s, American football, baseball, and basketball began to dominate the sports landscape, and soccer’s popularity waned.
Differentiation from American Football:
To avoid confusion with American football, which was by then one of the most popular sports in the United States, the term “soccer” became more prevalent. By using “soccer,” Americans could more clearly refer to the sport played with a round ball, while American football used an oval ball.
World Cup and Changing Terminology:
The resurgence of soccer in the United States is often attributed to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in the country. The tournament generated significant interest and ignited a passion for soccer in the United States. During this time, the term “soccer” remained widely used, and the sport’s governing body, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), still employed it.
While “football” is the universally recognized term for the sport worldwide, it wasn’t practical to suddenly adopt it in the United States due to long-standing linguistic conventions and the association with American football. Additionally, the sport had already gained a strong foothold under the name “soccer.”
Contemporary Usage and Debate:
In the 21st century, soccer in the United States has experienced considerable growth, both in terms of participation and interest, with Major League Soccer (MLS) becoming a prominent league. However, the debate over the terminology persists. While “football” is gradually gaining acceptance, especially among avid soccer fans, “soccer” remains the more widely recognized term.
The American usage of “soccer” is not a unique linguistic case. Other countries also have their own terms for the sport. In Australia, it is often called “soccer” to distinguish it from Australian rules football and rugby.
In summary, the use of the term “soccer” in the United States can be traced back to historical linguistic differentiations and the need to distinguish the sport from American football. Despite its unconventional nature on the global stage, it is deeply ingrained in American culture. The ongoing debate between “football” and “soccer” reflects the evolving relationship between the United States and the world’s most popular sport.
So what say you? What color do you bleed? Are you a college or professional fan? Hit us up in the comments below.
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