| Football, or Soccer as it is known in America, is the | | | | Confederation of North, Central American and |
| most popular team sport played professionally and by | | | | Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Union |
| amateurs worldwide. Soccer players are revered as | | | | of European Football Association (UEFA), Oceania |
| icons and soccer teams sign millions of dollars as | | | | Football Confederation (OFC) and Confederacion |
| endorsement deals. | | | | Sudamaricana de Futbal (CONMEBOL representing |
| Soccer is a game between two teams of 11 players, | | | | South America). |
| each trying to net the most goals in the opposite side's | | | | Soccer trophies are awarded for matches of all sizes, |
| goal post. Players are forbidden to use their hands, | | | | from local playgrounds to huge stadiums packed with |
| except for the goalkeeper, who can prevent a goal | | | | fans. The most prestigious is the World Cup, organized |
| with his hands. So each team tries to prevent the | | | | by FIFA. It takes place every four years, and about |
| other from scoring while trying to score itself. A | | | | 190 national teams vie to qualify to play the finals. The |
| standard match consists of two sessions of 45 | | | | finals now involve 34 national teams. Soccer has been |
| minutes each, separated by a 15-minute break called | | | | a part of the Summer Olympics since 1900, except for |
| half time. Extra time and penalty shootouts are allowed | | | | the 1932 games in Los Angeles. Currently, it is played |
| by the referee under special circumstances to decide | | | | at an under-23 level, so it is less prestigious than the |
| an undecided match. | | | | World Cup. A women's football tournament was also |
| Soccer is played professionally all over the world, in | | | | started for the 1996 Olympics. |
| stadiums where millions of fans throng to watch a | | | | The major international tournaments are as follows: |
| match. Such matches are also watched on television. | | | | FIFA World Cup, European Championship, UEFA |
| Amateurs also play soccer. A survey by Federation | | | | champions league, Copa America, African Nations Cup, |
| Internationale De Football Association (FIFA-- soccer's | | | | CAF Champions League, Asian Cup, AFC champions |
| governing body) revealed that in 2001, over 240 million | | | | League, CONCACAF league and championship cups |
| people worldwide in more than 200 countries played | | | | and Oceania Nations Cup. |
| the game. | | | | Soccer trophies are made of metal, pewter, gold, silver |
| Six regional confederations are associated with FIFA. | | | | or other materials, and depict the shape of a soccer |
| These include the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), | | | | ball or a player in action. |
| Confederation of African Football (CAF), | | | | |