Why is football called soccer?

Ever wondered why the same game has two names? You’re not alone. The mix‑up started a long time ago, and the story is actually pretty simple.

The birth of the word “soccer”

Back in the 1800s England tried to tidy up the many versions of football. The clubs that played the version with a round ball called it association football to set it apart from rugby‑style games.

Students loved slang, so they shortened association to “assoc.” Adding the common British “‑er” ending turned it into “soccer.” It spread through schools and newspapers, and for a while, both “football” and “soccer” were used interchangeably across the UK.

How the name spread around the world

When the game traveled to places like the United States, Canada, and Australia, those countries already had a sport called football—American football or rugby. To avoid confusion, they kept the British “soccer” label.

In the US, the term took hold in the early 20th century, especially after professional leagues formed. Canadian and Australian fans used “soccer” for the same reason: they needed a word that didn’t clash with their local football codes.

Meanwhile, back in England, “football” slowly reclaimed the spotlight. By the mid‑1900s most Brits dropped “soccer” in everyday talk, though the word lingered in the press and among older fans.

Today, about 80 % of the world calls the sport “football.” In the US, Canada, Australia, and a few islands, “soccer” is still the go‑to term. Both names are correct; which one you use just depends on where you are.

Fun fact: the English Football Association still uses the abbreviation “FA” for its governing body, but the word “soccer” appears in the official name of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

So why does the debate keep popping up? Mostly because language moves slower than the game itself. New fans get used to the term they hear on TV, while older fans remember the old school slang.

If you’ve ever been confused by a headline that said “soccer match” in a British paper, you now know why. The history is a reminder that sport names can travel, change, and settle in unexpected places.

Got a favorite story about the name mix‑up? Share it in the comments and keep the conversation going.

Why is football even called soccer when both are the same?

As a blogger, I've always been curious about why football is called soccer when both terms refer to the same sport. After some research, I discovered that the term "soccer" originated from the British abbreviation "assoc" for "association football." The term gained popularity in countries where another form of football, like American or Australian, already existed. However, the majority of the world still refers to the sport as football. It's fascinating how language and regional differences can create such confusion for such a globally loved sport!