Soccer and football are two of the most popular sports in the whole world. Even if there are many differences between the two of them yet many people are confused and do not exactly know which these differences are. In this article you will find information about the differences and similarities between football and soccer.

Soccer is related to football in some aspects but it is not in other ones. Both football and soccer appeared in the 19 century. Soccer is quite different from the football’s European cousin, rugby. Soccer is known as “football” in most European countries and in South America too.

Soccer and rugby are related as soccer derived from rugby when a “no hands” rule appeared. Rugby changed into two types of games: traditional rugby played in Europe and other continents and American football which is played in the United States.

Football and soccer differ because of one main thing: football is played mostly with the hands and less with feet and soccer is played with the feet and only one player, the goalkeeper is allowed to use his hands in the game. Also, the objectives of the American football and soccer are different.

The football offense has to score touchdowns; the defense has to stop the opposite team from scoring touchdowns while soccer teams are seen as a whole. The defensive part and offensive part of the soccer game depends on who has the ball as many midfielders play defense when the opposite team has the ball and many midfielders help the offense when their team has the ball.

Fans of soccer and football are everywhere but soccer has numerous fans outside the United States and American football has numerous fans in the United States and Canada. Many people are fans of international soccer tournaments such as the soccer World Cup or Champions League. However, the Super Bowl is a much watched event too. Both football and soccer have many fans around the world.

The whole idea of soccer relies in putting the ball inside the goal. In football, there is no such thing as the “goal” is different from the one in soccer. Also, football is more physical than soccer as some physical moves are allowed. In soccer no kind of tackling is allowed.

In conclusion, both soccer and football are great sports of the world and they have fans from Africa to Asia or Australia even if their origins are in Europe or United States.