Soccer—known as association football in most of the world—is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who try to score goals by getting a ball into the opposing team’s net using primarily their feet.

The basics: Objective: Score more goals than the other team; Field: A rectangular grass or turf field with a goal at each end; Players: 10 field players + 1 goalkeeper per team; Game length: Typically 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves); Key rule: Players (except the goalkeeper) cannot use their hands or arms;

Why it’s so popular: Soccer is the most widely played and watched sport in the world, loved for its simplicity, accessibility, and global reach. It brings together people across cultures, countries, and languages.

Major global event: The biggest tournament in soccer is the FIFA World Cup, held every four years and watched by billions worldwide.