Football is the most popular sport today, with more than 4 billion fans worldwide. This game has evolved until it reached its current form. The first mention of a similar game dates back to ancient times and similar games were practiced by the Egyptians or Romans.
The form of soccer that is known today was born in 1848 in Cambridge, British Isles. This is the date internationally recognized as the year when the game of football was sanctioned and the first rules were invented.
The first club to be officially affiliated is Sheffield Football Club, and this took place on October 24, 1857. A dozen years later, the first football association was formed – The Football Association. The sport quickly gained notoriety in neighboring Scotland, and in 1872 the first national team match was played. This was the first step in the expansion of football across the globe, making the game the most popular sport.
