Football

Football, also known as soccer in some countries, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players, using a spherical ball. It is played on a rectangular field known as a pitch, with a goal at each end. The objective of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing team’s goal, the team that scores the most goals during the match wins.

The game is typically divided into two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with a short halftime interval. Players primarily use their feet to control, pass, and shoot the ball, though they can use any part of their body except their arms and hands; only the goalkeeper is permitted to use their hands and only within a designated penalty area.

Football is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, which are maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). It is the world’s most popular sport, played by millions of people across various age groups and skill levels. Major international competitions include the FIFA World Cup and continental tournaments like the UEFA European Championship. Football has a significant cultural impact globally, influencing social dynamics and local communities.