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Soccer began at an international level in 1904 when a soccer governing body named FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association ) came to be. Most of the world considers the English as the founders of Soccer as we know it today. However there is debate because China was the first to play a game similar to soccer, but it was played with the heads of their enemies as an act of dishonor.

The first world cup was played in 1934 in Uruguay. The winners were, that’s right, Uruguay!

The team that has the most world cup wins since it began is Brazil with 5 total wins. Three of which were won when the greatest player of all time, Pele, was on the team. They may be adding an additional win this summer in world cup in Brazil.

The oldest league for club play is the English Premiere league. It hosts many teams that were founded in the 1800s and continues to be the most competitive league in the world.

In the English Premiere league the most successful team has been Liverpool FC. They have won the league 17 times and have won almost countless other tournaments across Europe. The team with the most wins inside of the league is Manchester United with 20 league titles.

Soccer at heart is a very simple sport that has very little rules.

• • • • Basic rules are these: Each team plays with 11 players, 1 is a goalkeeper The team that scores the most goals is the winner You may play the ball with any part of your body, except your arms A game is 90 minutes long with 45 minute halves, and unlike other sports they do not stop the clock, instead it is added in addition to the 90 minutes

There is no precise size requirement for fields when playing soccer. It can range from 100x50 meters to 120x80 meters.

The least understood rule of soccer is the offside rule. The rule dictates whether a player is allowed to play the ball from a pass. If the attacking player is behind the last defender than the pass is considered offside and is given to the other team for an indirect kick.

The games are monitored by 3 Referees. There is a center referee and 2 assistant referees. The center is usually the most experienced referee and has final say in all calls.

In the past referees were responsible for making calls on whether a ball was considered to be a goal or not. Now they have “Goal line technology” which will notify the referee if the ball passed the goal threshold.

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Question 1

Which player has won the most World Cups?

Question 2

Which team won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?

Question 3

Who is the most successful United States player in the World Cup?

Question 4

Which country is credited for the founding of Soccer?

Question 5

Which player has the most “World Player of the Year” awards?

Answers

1. Pele 2. Spain 3. Landon Donovan 4. England( kind of China) 5. Lionel Messi