history of football

By Jamie McKeague
  • 5000 BCE

    The Beginning

    There is evidence in China that military forces around 2nd and 3rd century BC (Han Dynasty) played a game, originally named "Tsu Chu” that involved kicking a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play of the game.
  • 1000 BCE

    first version of "soccer" (football)

    The Japanese version of 'soccer' was called Kemari, a game much like modern hacky sack, played with two to twelve players, and played a larger ball stuffed with sawdust. There was also a field designated by four trees (cherry, maple, pine and willow).
  • 700

    Football in Britain

    The first Football games played in Britain was between the locals of east of England, starting after a 'legendary' game that involved kicking around the severed head of a Danish prince that they had defeated in a war. These games were violent, where injury and death were not uncommon.

  • rules were formed

    John Charles Thring of Uppingham School devised some rules for Soccer. The Football Association rules were further amended to exclude any handling of the ball.

  • rugby

    The Rugby Football Union was formed.

  • first official match

    The first official international football match took place between Scotland and England in Glasgow.

  • IFAB

    The International Football Association Board (IFAB) was formed.

  • The football league was born

    William McGregor founded the world's first football league in England.

  • FIFA was born

    The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international football body, was formed in Paris.

  • first world cup

    The First World Cup took place in Uruguay. Uruguay won it.

  • professional football is born

    The professional soccer era started in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.

  • AFC and UEFA were formed

    The Asian Football Confederation was formed on May 8th. UEFA was formed on the 15th June.

  • CONCACAF was formed

    On December 18th, CONCACAF (The confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) was formed.

  • England win the world cup

    The World Cup took place in England. The host team won it. The Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Caravajal set a record for most participation in World Cups.

  • Maradona controversy and brilliance

    The World Cup took place in Mexico. Argentina wins its second World Cup. Maradona scored the most amazing goal in the history of soccer, and one of the most controversial.

  • first womans world cup

    First FIFA World Championship for Women's Football in China won by the USA.

  • first African world cup

    World Cup was hosted for the first time on the African soil as the hosts South Africa played Mexico in the first match. It was Spain who lifted the coveted trophy defeating Holland in the finals.

  • goal line technology

    goaloine technology was formed as a knew aspect to check

  • The 4th substitute

    The Football Association announced in the summer that it would permit an extra substitute in the latter stages of the Champions league, world cup and FA Cup, from the quarter-finals on, while the Football League has permitted a fourth substitute in extra time in all EFL Cup ties since last summer. Manchester City were the first team to make use of it in England, as Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Raheem Sterling on 105 minutes in their semi-final defeat by Arsenal.

  • VAR

    The video assistant referee (VAR) is an assistant referee in association football who reviews decisions made by the head referee with the use of video footage and a headset for communication. In 2018, VARs were written into the Laws of the Game by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) following trials in a number of major competitions.