As
football fans, we all know the basic rules of the game – kicking the ball into the opponent’s goal to score, using your feet (and head) to pass the ball, and avoiding fouls. But there are many intriguing and lesser-known facts about the sport that we might not be aware of. Here are some football English cold facts that are worth learning:
1. Origin of ‘soccer’: While the British invented the modern version of football, they didn’t call it ‘soccer’ – that was a word coined by Americans. In the 19th century, ‘association football’ was the name used, but in the US, where other sports like American football, basketball, and baseball were also popular, the term ‘soccer’ (short for ‘association’) was used to differentiate it from those other games.
2. The first international match: It was England vs Scotland in 1872, played at Hamilton Crescent in Scotland. The match ended in a 0-0 draw and featured only 11 players on each side. The first-ever official international tournament was the British Home Championship, which involved the four teams of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
3. The world’s largest stadium: The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, is the biggest football stadium in the world, with a capacity of 150,000. It was opened in 1989 and is also used for other events like political rallies.
4. The most successful club team: Real Madrid is the most decorated club in football history, having won a record 13 European Cups (now called the Champions League) and 34 La Liga titles in Spain. They have had many famous players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and Alfredo Di Stefano, and a rich history of success.
5. The fastest hat-trick: A hat-trick (scoring three goals in a game) is an achievement in itself, but to do it very quickly is even more impressive. The record for the fastest hat-trick ever scored in a professional match is held by Tommy Ross of Ross County, who netted three goals in just 90 seconds against Nairn County in 1964.
6. The most expensive transfer: The financial aspect of football transfers is often a hot topic, and the largest transfer fee ever paid was for Brazilian superstar Neymar, who moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a whopping €222 million in 2017. His salary is also one of the highest in the sport.
7. The biggest win: There have been many one-sided matches in football history, but the biggest margin of victory ever recorded was in a match between Australia and American Samoa in 2001, when Australia won 31-0. Striker Archie Thompson scored 13 goals in that match alone – another record.
8. The oldest football club: Sheffield FC is considered the oldest football club in the world, having been founded in 1857. They played their first game against local rivals Hallam FC in 1860 and have since been involved in various competitions, including the FA Cup.
9. The World Cup trophy: The most recognizable prize in football is the World Cup trophy, which is awarded to the winners of the tournament held every four years. The trophy is made of 18-carat gold and weighs 6.1 kilograms. It was first awarded in 1930 and has since been won by eight different nations, with Brazil having the most titles (five).
10 The most followed sport: Finally, it’s worth noting just how popular football is as a sport – it’s estimated that over 4 billion people around the world watch or follow it in some way. As one of the oldest and most iconic sports, football truly has a global appeal that makes it a beloved pastime for millions of fans.
