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football: Quick Facts

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Football: Soccer-Lacklustre Man City felled by Forest as title challenge stutters • Nov. 7, 2026, 3:36 PM ET (Toronto Star)
Growth of Asian-American population has reached North Texas football fields • Oct. 30, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (Dallas Morning News)
How Spanish coaches became soccer's hottest commodity • Oct. 23, 2026, 6:01 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As association football ‱ soccer

Photos and Videos

Megan Rapinoe of the United States, in a navy and red striped uniform, competes for the ball with Clare Polkinghorne of Australia, in yellow, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic women's soccer bronze medal match.
Infographic summarizing FIFA World Cup history, including record tournament attendances, most appearances and top goal scorers by player and country, a map of 2026 host cities, and a timeline of past winners and milestones.
Brazil captain Carlos Alberto Torres holds the Jules Rimet trophy above his head, celebrating with fans and teammates after winning the 1970 World Cup at Azteca Stadium.
Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar, in a white jersey, faces Takumi Minamino of Japan, wearing number 9, and another Japanese player during the 2019 Asian Cup final soccer match.
Carli Lloyd of the United States, wearing jersey number 10, kicks a penalty shot during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 semifinal against Germany, with a referee and players in the background.
Diego Maradona of Argentina, in a blue and white striped jersey, dribbles the ball past a South Korean defender during the 1986 World Cup opening match.
Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, stands at a podium gesturing with one hand while speaking, with international flags and a soccer ball visible in the background.
Wayne Rooney of England in a white jersey with number 9, crouched and focused during a 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-final soccer match against Portugal.
Zinedine Zidane of France dribbles the ball while being closely pursued by Andrea Pirlo of Italy during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin.
Brazilian footballer Pele in action on the field for Brazil, about to kick a soccer ball during a match, circa 1958.
U.S. women's soccer players in red jerseys celebrate during a FIFA World Cup match, with Megan Rapinoe smiling and holding teammate Lindsey Horan.
The chemistry behind a World Cup soccer ball
A man wearing glasses and a blue turtleneck holds a globe patterned like a soccer ball, with stadium and physics equations in the background and text above stating Science of Soccer.
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Related Topics and References

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Key People

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Tommy Burns
Scottish association football player and manager
Lionel Messi, wearing Argentina number 10 jersey, looks upward with his hands raised in prayer as he celebrates scoring his team second goal during a FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.
Lionel Messi
Argentine-born football (soccer) player
Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a light green Portugal national team training top, jogs on a soccer field before a FIFA 2018 qualification match.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portuguese football (soccer) player
Alexia Putellas and Harry Kane stand onstage holding Ballon d'Or trophies, Putellas in a white gown and Kane in a black tuxedo.
Harry Kane
English football (soccer) player
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah
Egyptian football (soccer) player
Alexia Putellas holds the Women's Ballon d'Or trophy while wearing a black sequined dress onstage.
Alexia Putellas
Spanish football (soccer) player
Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti
Italian football manager and player
Aitana Bonmati and Rodri, both in formal attire, hold their Ballon d'Or trophies on stage, with Rodri kissing his award and Bonmati smiling at the camera.
Aitana BonmatĂ­
Spanish football (soccer) player
VinĂ­cius JĂșnior in 2025
VinĂ­cius JĂșnior
Brazilian football (soccer) player
David Beckham
David Beckham
English football (soccer) player
Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid smiles and holds the UEFA Champions League Trophy on the field after the 2023/24 final at Wembley Stadium.
Jude Bellingham
English football (soccer) player
Liberian President
George Weah
president of Liberia
Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Brazilian football (soccer) player
French soccer player Kylian Mbappe, wearing jersey number 10, takes a shot on goal during the FIFA World Cup quarter final against England at Al Bayt Stadium.
Kylian Mbappé
French football (soccer) player
Erling Braut Haaland in a red Norway jersey celebrates a goal with one arm raised and the other by his ear during a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands at Ullevaal Stadium.
Erling Haaland
Norwegian football (soccer) player
Neymar of Brazil in a yellow jersey takes a shot on goal as Dejan Lovren of Croatia tries to block him during the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter final match.
Neymar
Brazilian football (soccer) player
Sebastiån Piñera
Sebastiån Piñera
president of Chile
Pelé
Pelé
Brazilian football (soccer) player
Miroslav Klose lifts the World Cup trophy surrounded by jubilant German teammates, including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Benedikt Howedes, after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Miroslav Klose
German football (soccer) player
Inter Milan head coach Jose Mourinho holds the Champions League trophy as his players celebrate after defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid.
José Mourinho
Portuguese football (soccer) manager

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