1. The oldest soccer-like sport was played over 2,000 years ago in ancient Chinese, Greek, and Roman cultures.
2. In its current form, soccer evolved from 19th century England and was brought to the United States by immigrants.
3. England’s first football association was created in 1863, establishing rules including that the ball could not be carried by hand, which led to the separation between soccer and rugby.
4. Increasing industrialization made soccer more popular in England; workplace-based teams emerged in the 1900s, talented players were paid, and soccer became a revenue-generating spectator sport.
5. The first professional soccer league was the English Football League; semi-professional leagues began in Germany in 1949, and the first professional German division started in 1963/64.
6. American soccer leagues switched from “football” to “soccer” in the late 1910s and early 1920s to avoid confusion with American football.
7. The first U.S. professional soccer leagues formed in 1967: the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League, which merged to create the North American Soccer League in 1968.
8. Soccer’s popularity continued to increase in the U.S., leading to hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the establishment of Major League Soccer in 1996.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of reading comprehension worksheets 7th grade.
