Fun Facts About Soccer

Here are some cool facts about soccer.

1.) There are 32 panels on a traditional soccer ball, one for each country in Europe.

2.) Known as “soccer” in the United States, the sport is known as “football” elsewhere. But the game’s original name was actually “basket-ball” because the first goals were overturned wicker baskets.

3.) Soccer balls are slightly oval-shaped. But the checkered board pattern creates an illusion of a perfect sphere.

4.) A professional soccer player runs 48 kilometers, or 3.9 miles, in an average soccer game.

5.) In most countries, a soccer player’s uniform is called a “kit.” The cleats are called “hooves.”

6.) The national sport of Canada is soccer.

7.) Soccer was illegal in Mississippi until 1991.

8.) Soccer is the fastest growing youth sport in the U.S.

9.) There are 1000 activity changes in every soccer match.

10.) United States has more official soccer players than any other nation in the world - almost 18 million.

11.) In the 1990s, soccer was recognized as the fastest-growing college and high school sport in the US.

12.) Soccer is distinguished from rugby and American/Canadian football in that it is primarily played with the feet. Touching the ball with hands is not allowed.

13.) 4. The University of North Carolina has won an incredible 16 national championships in women's soccer since the first US college tournament in 1982.

Those were some fun facts about soccer.

Until next time,
     Zoe