Why does the US call football soccer. If you have ever asked yourself this question, you might be surprised to learn that the term was not invented by Americans at all, but rather originated in 19th-century Britain.
The British Origin of “Soccer”
While many assume “soccer” is an Americanism created to differentiate the sport from American football. The word actually started in the English public school system during the late 1800s.
When the Football Association (FA) was established in England in 1863 to standardize rules, the official game was named Association Football. To make it shorter and easier to say in student slang, university students at Oxford and Cambridge began adding “-er” to the end of shortened words.
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Association Football became Assoccer, which was quickly shortened to Soccer.
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Rugby Football was similarly shortened to Rugger.
For decades in England, both “football” and “soccer” were used interchangeably to describe the exact same sport.
How American Football Took Over the Name
While soccer was gaining traction in the UK, sports culture in North America was developing its own path. In the late 19th century, American universities adapted elements of both Association Football and Rugby Football into a brand-new game.
Because this new gridiron-style sport involved kicking a ball with the foot to score goals, Americans simply called it football.
By the early 20th century, American football had surpassed all other team sports in popularity across the United States. To avoid confusion between gridiron football and association football, Americans adopted the slang term soccer for the international game.
Why Did Britain Stop Using the Word “Soccer”?
Up until the 1970s and 1980s, British media and public figures frequently used the word “soccer” without any controversy. However, as American soccer (and the North American Soccer League) grew in visibility, the term began to carry an “Americanized” connotation in the UK.
To protect their cultural identity around the sport, the British public gradually phased out the word “soccer” in favor of “football.” Today, calling the sport soccer in England is often viewed as an American habit, despite its Oxford roots.
Other Countries That Use “Soccer”
The United States is not alone in using the term. Countries where another form of football dominates the local sports market also rely on the word soccer to clarify which sport they mean:
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Australia: Australian Rules Football (“Footy”) is primary, so Association Football is widely called soccer.
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Canada: Canadian Football dominates, leading most Canadians to use soccer.
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Ireland: Gaelic Football is immensely popular, so “soccer” distinguishes Association Football.
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South Africa: Both “soccer” and “football” are used, with the national body named the South African Football Association, but the top league called the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
