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How does American football differ from soccer?
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American football
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during Super Bowl LVII, 2023; the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
American football and soccer (association football) are distinct sports with different origins, rules, and mechanics. While both are team sports, they differ in several fundamental ways:
- Handling the Ball: The most significant difference is that American football allows players to touch, carry, and throw the ball with their hands. In soccer, players are prohibited from using their hands or arms to maneuver the ball, with the exception of the goalkeeper within a designated penalty area.12
- Game Structure and Possession: American football is characterized by alternating possessions, where an offensive team has a set number of "downs" to advance the ball a specific distance. If they fail, they must surrender possession. Soccer is a continuous game where teams compete to maneuver the ball into the opponent's goal, and possession is not dictated by a system of downs.312
- Field and Equipment: American football is played on a rectangular "gridiron" field marked with yard lines. Soccer is played on a pitch, typically with a spherical ball, and players wear shin guards and specialized footwear.312
- Scoring: In American football, points are scored via touchdowns, field goals, and safeties. In soccer, the objective is simply to score goals by maneuvering the ball into the opponent's net.32