Football

Football is a team sport played between two teams, typically consisting of eleven players each, where the objective is to score goals by getting a ball into the opposing team’s net. The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. Players primarily use their feet to control, pass, and shoot the ball, but they can also use other parts of their bodies, except for the arms and hands, with the exception of the goalkeeper, who can handle the ball within their penalty area.

The sport is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Matches typically last 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, with additional time for stoppages. Football is globally recognized and is one of the most widely played and followed sports, with various leagues, clubs, and national teams competing at different levels. Major international tournaments, such as the FIFA World Cup, highlight its global popularity. The term “football” can refer to different codes of the sport in various regions, including association football (soccer), American football, Canadian football, and rugby football, among others. However, in most of the world, “football” specifically refers to association football, known as soccer in some countries, particularly in North America.