From ancient games to England's 1863 rules and the founding of FIFA: how football evolved into the most popular sport on earth.
Football's roots trace to ancient ball games known to many civilizations, but the modern game was officially born in England in 1863 with the founding of the Football Association and unified rules. From there it spread to conquer the world.
Ancient beginnings
Civilizations in China, Greece and Rome played games resembling kicking a ball, but without unified rules. In medieval England a chaotic folk football spread between villages before being organized in schools.
The founding moment: 1863
In 1863 English clubs met and founded the Football Association (FA), setting the first unified rules that separated football from rugby. This moment is considered the birth of the modern game.
Global spread and FIFA
The British carried the game worldwide through trade and ports. In 1904 FIFA was founded to govern the game globally, and the first World Cup kicked off in 1930, turning football into a universal phenomenon.
Why did it become number one?
For its simple rules, needing only a ball, and its power to unite peoples across languages and cultures. Follow football's stories, history and latest news on Shahid Live.
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