Soccer vs Football History
Were you ever curious as to why England discontinued the use of the term “soccer”? Let’s go back in time to observe how the names of this popular sport evolved.
Where “Soccer” Came From
It was an 1880s sport lingo craze started by some cheeky Oxford students. The purpose was to distinguish between “rugger” (rugby football) and “assoccer” (association soccer).
Eventually, “assoccer” got trimmed down to “soccer”. This quirky nickname came from the abbreviation “assoc.” in “association football.”
Fast forward to 2014, University of Michigan professor Stefan Szymanski pointed out that “soccer” is actually a British invention. Brits used this term widely until about 40 years ago. The word “soccer” has roots going back nearly 200 years (Business Insider).
How the Terms Changed
In the late nineteenth century, the term “soccer” was used to distinguish between several styles of football in England.
The game was separated into Rugby Football and Association Football since there were no common rules at the time. Those aristocratic boys who came up with “rugger” for rugby also coined “soccer” for association football.
But “soccer” never really caught on in Great Britain. By the 20th century, “association football” was just called “football.” This change happened because the rules of association football became widely accepted and standardized, making it unnecessary to differentiate.
| Term | Origin | Usage Period | Popularity in the UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soccer | Oxford, 1880s | Until 1970s | Low |
| Football | General usage | 20th Century | High |
After World War II, the term “soccer” faded in Britain as association football became simply “football.” A 1905 letter to The New York Times mentioned that “Association” didn’t take an “er” easily, so it was sometimes called “Soccer”.
If you would like to learn more about this topic, check out our articles on why is football called soccer? and which countries say soccer?.
Cultural Differences in Terminology
Let’s talk about how the terms “soccer” and “football” are associated all over the world, and the reason why certain people are so heated toward it.
Who Says What?
Americans, Canadians, Irish, and Australians use “soccer” often. Why? Because they have other types of football, like American Football and Rugby, and calling everything “football” would be a mess. It’s all about keeping things clear.
| Country | Common Term for Association Football |
|---|---|
| United States | Soccer |
| Canada | Soccer |
| Ireland | Soccer |
| Australia | Soccer |
| United Kingdom | Football |
| Spain | Fútbol |
| France | Football |
Want more on this? Check out our article on which countries say soccer?.
The “Soccer” Backlash
It is almost a dirty word to mention soccer in the UK.In Britain, between 1960 and 1980, the words “soccer” and “football” were used quite interchangeably, but since the 1980s, “soccer” has become more associated with American English (Business Insider).
Still, some British media, like Sky Sports, haven’t ditched “soccer” entirely. Programs like “Soccer A.M.” and “Soccer Saturday” help to preserve the concept. It is a type of social battle.
In England, many fans hate the word “soccer.” They argue it should be called “football” because, well, you use your feet to kick the ball.
This debate gets pretty lively on social media, especially on Twitter, where people love to remind everyone that the English invented the game (TIME).
The term “soccer” actually started in England. It was a way to tell Rugby Football and Association Football apart. Aristocratic boys came up with “rugger” for Rugby and “soccer” for Association Football. “Soccer” is a short form of “Association,” which didn’t quite fit the “er” ending, so they made it work.
