Known as one of the world’s oldest sports to exist, football is a game enjoyed by many, with evidence reaching back more than 2,000 years in China. And since it has an eventful history full of exciting turning points, it is only organic for fans to learn all about the fun facts the sport offers. Many countries claim that football originated from their homeland—Italy, Greece, and nations in Central America have made similar affirmations.
But, wherever it originated from, we all collectively agree that England is the country that revolutionized football into the game we love today. What’s more? They’re also attributed to establishing the first set of standard regulations for the game. Whether you watch football for fun or check out live odds on betting websites, it’s always interesting to know about the exhilarating sport.
1. The Game Was Invented in the Fast East
Contrary to popular belief, football was not invented in Central America despite being a common pastime there. What if someone said to you that the world’s most popular sports began in China, whose national team is ranked 75th in the FIFA Ranking? That’s right, it originated in 476 BC in China and went by a different name: Cuju.
2. England Is Home to the Oldest Football Club in the World
The oldest known soccer club is located in a city in South Yorkshire. Sheffield Football Club, also known as Sheffield F.C. is proud to call itself the oldest of its kind, formed on October 24, 1857. William Prest and Nathaniel Creswick, the club’s founders, were notable players from the football club’s early stages.
3. Football Is Hands Down the Most Popular Sport
As a whole, 240 million people play football on a regular basis. To break it down to you, there are 7.5 billion people, which discloses that more than 3% of the population plays the sport routinely. This is excluding spectators who watch games during tournaments.
4. Stephan Stanis Has Attained the Most Goals in a Single Match
This dates all the way back to December 1942. Since Stephan Stanis scored a record-breaking 16 goals for Racing Club de Lens, no one has been able to beat this unusual record, which has now stood for a little under a century.
5. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Final Was the Most Watched Finale
When Croatia played against France in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Finale, the game was watched by 1.1 billion people worldwide. This number excludes people that watched the game on their laptops and public viewing locations.
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