Football

Early ball games

We start around the 3rd century BC. In China, Cuju is played, one of the oldest known ball games. Two teams compete around a ball filled with feathers that must be sent into a net without using the hands. In Ancient Greece, Episkyros, another ball sport, is played between two teams of 12 to 14 players. The goal of this game is to send the ball over the opponent's line using hands and feet. The Romans based their game Harpastum on this sport. In Harpastum, two teams each try to keep the ball in their own camp as long as possible, again using hands and feet. Elsewhere in the world, many ball games are played with local rules. Around the 12th century, in northwestern France and the British Isles, a ball game is played that is called Soule in French and Mob Football in English. The rules vary slightly from one region to another. Globally, a match pits two villages, two parishes, or simply two teams, which can be composed of several tens of players. The goal is to drop the ball into the camp of the opposing team. This can be in front of the local church door, in front of a wall, or even sometimes in a pond. The ball can be played with both the feet and hands. Most often, it ends in violent free-for-alls. In 1579 in Chesterton, a match between Cambridge University students and villagers got out of hand. As a result, Cambridge students thereafter only played on their own university field.

Birth of Football

At the beginning of the 19th century in British colleges and universities, team sports are seen as a good way to train young people in discipline, team spirit, and leadership. At the same time, the industrial revolution and the advent of the railroad facilitate exchanges. The idea of organizing inter-university matches appears, but each team plays with its own rules, and the first meetings are confused, especially between teams that mainly favor dribbling, i.e., playing with the feet, and those that mainly favor handling, i.e., playing with the hands. For a successful match, it therefore becomes necessary to either negotiate the rules beforehand, or to divide the match into two half-times and to play with the rules of each team for one half. In Cambridge, students from different universities meet regularly to try to establish common rules. In 1857, the Sheffield Football Club is founded as the first independent club in history, i.e., not linked to a university or institution. The club plays under its own rules, which are similar to modern football. In 1863, new and more detailed Cambridge rules are published. But just a few days later, the newly formed Football Association, which represents 11 London clubs and is the first federation in history, publishes its own rules inspired by the Cambridge rules. The clubs that favor handling, seeing the rules evolve towards dribbling, come together in 1871 to found the Rugby Football Union. This marks the break between Rugby Football and the Football Association, which is today more commonly known as simply Football or Soccer. The same year, the Football Association organizes the first FA Cup. The matches last 90 minutes and feature two teams of 11 players – including, for the first time, a goalkeeper. In 1872, the first international match between England and Scotland takes place and ends in a draw, 0 to 0.

World expansion

At that time, the United Kingdom is the leading economic and colonial power in the world. British nationals are sent all around the world to serve the Empire. Railway workers in Latin America, students in Switzerland, or simply British communities found clubs around the world to play Football Association, Rugby Football, or sometimes a combination of both. In 1881, the first international women's game takes place between England and Scotland. But the fact that women are playing football is frowned upon, and during the return match, a crowd attacks the players, forcing them to flee in their omnibus. Around the world, the sport becomes increasingly popular, and many new clubs and federations are created. In 1902, the first international matches outside the United Kingdom are held. Argentina beats Uruguay 6-0 in one match, and in the other, the Austrian team wins 5-0 against the Hungarian team.

Internationalization

In 1904, the “Fédération Internationale de Football Association”, or FIFA, is founded in Paris. At first, it brings together 7 countries, with its role being to organize international matches. More nations quickly join FIFA. However, France is opposed to England's application because it wants each country to be represented by a single federation. The United Kingdom has the four oldest federations in history, and they don’t want to merge. Finally, after a vote, England is admitted separately. In 1908 at the London Olympic Games, Football is officially admitted for the first time. Professionalism being then forbidden at the Olympic Games, it is the England national amateur football team which represents the country, and which wins the gold medal. In 1910, FIFA exceptionally accepts the applications of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The four British Federations could therefore play international matches, but at the Olympic Games, only the England amateur team could represent the country. In 1912 at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, it wins again. In 1916, during World War I, Argentina celebrates its 100 years of independence by organizing a Football tournament with Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. On this occasion, CONMEBOL, the first continental confederation, is founded. In 1920, during the Antwerp Olympic Games, in which Egypt is the first non-European country to participate, Belgium wins, and in 1924 in Paris, Uruguay wins the gold medal in its first participation. Football becomes so popular that many leagues become professional and, as a result, more and more players could no longer represent their country at the Olympic Games, which remains reserved for amateurs. FIFA then thinks of creating its own international competition, which would consist of professional teams.

The FIFA World Cup

In 1928, during the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, FIFA announces its project to create its own World Cup. Uruguay, after its new victory at the Olympic Games, is chosen to host the first World Cup, which would take place in 1930, on the occasion of the centenary of the country's independence. Uruguay undertakes to build a new stadium for the occasion. But in Europe, the players and federations have little interest in this event, especially since it takes about 2 weeks by ship to reach Uruguay, and therefore the entire trip will take 2 months. After many negotiations, only 4 European countries agree to participate. The World Cup final is played between Uruguay and Argentina, whose rivalry is so strong that a referee can be found only a few hours before the match, and who agrees to adjudicate the match only if he is protected. Both teams come with their own ball. One half is played with the Argentine ball, the other with the Uruguayan. Uruguay wins 4-2. Four years later, it is the turn of Mussolini's fascist Italy to host the World Cup, which is the first to be broadcast live on the radio. Uruguay chooses not to participate in response to the lack of interest shown by European countries for its cup. In the final, Italy wins against Czechoslovakia 2 to 1.

Effervescence

In 1936, FIFA chooses to play the next World Cup in France, which provokes the anger of Latin American countries who want the cup to be played alternately between the two continents. Uruguay and Argentina decide then not to participate. Spain, which is in the middle of a civil war, does not participate either, and a few months before the Cup, Austria, which had qualified, is annexed by Nazi Germany. In the final, Italy retains its title by beating Hungary 4-2. World War II then brings the competition to a halt for the next 12 years. The World Cup resumes in 1950 in Brazil. Germany and Japan, which are occupied, are not allowed to participate. In addition, at the beginning of the Cold War, the countries of the Eastern bloc do not participate either. Only 13 countries play in the finals, including England, which was previously in conflict with FIFA, and participates for the first time. But to everyone's surprise, England is eliminated in the group stage after losing to the United States and Spain. This is the only World Cup that does not end with a final, but with a finalist group. By chance, the two favorites, Uruguay and Brazil, face each other in the last match, which is played in the brand new Maracanã Stadium, with a record capacity of 200,000 spectators. A draw would be enough for Brazil to be champion. However, Uruguay wins 2-1 in front of a stunned Brazilian audience. Four years later, Switzerland hosts the competition, which is the first to be broadcast on television. Hungary, which is undefeated for 31 games, is the favorite. However, to everyone's surprise, West Germany narrowly wins the final, thanks to a goal scored in the final minutes of the game.

The continental confederations

In 1954, the Asian Football Confederation, and the Union of European Football Associations – or UEFA – are founded. The following year, the first European Champion Clubs' Cup is organized, the predecessor of the prestigious Champions League. Finally, in 1957, in the context of decolonization, the Confederation of African Football is founded by Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Africa. But the latter is disqualified from the first African Cup because the country practices apartheid, and do not have a multiracial team. In 1958, Sweden hosts the World Cup. It is the only time in which the 4 British federations participate, and it is the first participation of the USSR. The Brazilian team dominates thanks to its new 17-year-old star, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, and who will come to be known as one of the greatest footballers in history. In the final, he scores two goals against Sweden, giving Brazil its first title. In 1961, the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football is founded. The following year, during the World Cup in Chile, Brazil retains its title by beating Czechoslovakia 3-1. In 1963, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Football Association, a match is organized at Wembley Stadium between England and a FIFA world selection. England wins 2-1. Three years later, England hosts the World Cup. The competition is marked by the first participation of North Korea, which is not recognized by the United Kingdom, this being the case since the Korean War. England wins the final against West Germany. The same year, the Oceania Football Confederation is founded.

Tensions

In 1969, in Central America, while the rivalry is strong between El Salvador and Honduras, the two countries have to play three qualifying matches for the next World Cup. At the end of the games, under high tension and after some scuffles, a short war of 100 hours breaks out between the two countries, resulting in 3000 casualties. The following year, in 1970, Mexico organizes the World Cup, which is the first to be broadcast in color on television. For better visibility on screen, Adidas creates the famous Telstar ball, with its black and white design. This is also the first cup played with the yellow and red cards. In the final, Brazil wins against Italy and therefore can keep the prestigious Jules Rimet Cup, which was intended to end up in the first country to win 3 World Cups. FIFA then creates a new trophy that can only stay for a short time with future champions. In 1974, in the middle of the Cold War, West Germany hosts the World Cup, including in West Berlin, with the Berlin Wall, of course, still dividing the city. On this occasion, the only match in history between West and East Germany takes place. In the final, West Germany wins against the Netherlands. In 1976, just as Argentina is preparing to host the next World Cup, a coup d'état takes place, and a military dictatorship seizes power. Despite the controversy, the country still organizes and hosts the World Cup, but the event is marked by a series of suspicions of cheating in favor of Argentina, which is allowed to play its matches in staggered order, thus having the advantage of knowing the scores of the other matches. Argentina wins the final against the Netherlands.

The Football Business

Football becomes more and more popular in the world, generating more and more money through ticket sales, TV rights, merchandising, and advertising. Clubs are getting richer and attracting more and bigger investors, while the value of players is rising. In 1982, FC Barcelona buys the new Argentine star Diego Maradona for a record amount of roughly 7 million euros. That same year, post-Franco Spain hosts the World Cup, which is the first to be played by 24 teams, and which is seen by 1 billion viewers worldwide. The event is marred by the match between West Germany and Austria, which is called the “Disgrace of Gijón”. After a German goal, the two teams who are sure to be qualified, slow down their game, eliminating Algeria. On the other hand, France and West Germany face each other in a match full of twists, and it is the first of the competition to end in Penalty shoot-out. In the final, Italy wins against West Germany. In 1986, Mexico hosts the World Cup again, replacing Colombia, which had withdrawn. Diego Maradona is at the top of his game. During a match between Argentina and England, he scores a goal with his hand that is validated nonetheless, and becomes known as “the hand of God”. Four minutes later, he scores one of the most beautiful goals in history, which comes to be known as “the Goal of the Century”. In the final, Argentina wins against West Germany. Four years later, during the World Cup in Italy, West Germany takes its revenge by beating Argentina in the final.

New nations

In 1991, the first Women's World Cup is held in China, and is won by the US team. Three years later, the United States organizes the World Cup. A reunified Germany participates for the first time, as well as Russia after the fall of the USSR. The final between Brazil and Italy is the first final to end in Penalty shoot-out. Brazil wins 3-2. In 1998, France organizes the first World Cup played with 32 teams. In the final, France wins against Brazil 3-0, with two goals from Zinedine Zidane. In 2001, Zidane is bought by Real Madrid for the record sum of 75 million euros. The following year, in 2002, Japan and South Korea co-host the World Cup. To everyone's surprise, Turkey and South Korea reach the semi-finals. But above all, the final is greatly anticipated as it pits Brazil vs Germany, who still had not met during a World Cup, whereas since 1950 and excepting 1978, all the finals were played by one of the two teams. Brazil wins 2 to 0 thanks to a double by Ronaldo. It’s the 5th title for Brazil, which consolidates its status as “best team in the world”. In 2006, Germany hosts the World Cup. During the final between France and Italy, Zidane, who plays the last game of his career, is excluded after having given a headbutt to an opponent. Italy wins in a Penalty shoot-out. In 2010, South Africa is the first African country to host the World Cup. The event is followed by 3.2 billion viewers. The final is between the Netherlands and Spain, who have never won a World Cup. Spain wins its first title, while the Netherlands loses its 3rd final.

Scandals

At the end of 2010, FIFA awards the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. These choices are controversial because there are serious suspicions of corruption, and the two countries are accused of not respecting human rights. Qatar is now investing heavily in football, notably by buying PSG for 70 million euros. The objective is to transform the club, which is in the middle of a crisis, into a major European club capable of winning a Champions League. In 2013, Brazil, which is preparing to host the next World Cup, is challenged by huge demonstrations protesting the excessive expenses made for the organization. The following year, during the World Cup, Germany and Brazil meet for the second time. This time, Germany wins big, 7 to 1, which is experienced as a humiliation by a large part of the Brazilian population. In the final, Germany beats Argentina and becomes the first European country to win in Latin America. In 2017, PSG makes the most expensive transfer in history by buying Neymar for 220 million euros. The following year, the club follows up with the purchase of Kylian Mbappé for 180 million euros. The same year, the World Cup is played in Russia. The event is followed by half of the world population. In the final, France wins its second title against Croatia. From this point on, all eyes turn to Qatar, which is preparing for the 2022 World Cup. The small country of 3 million inhabitants must be able to welcome more than a million supporters, and must therefore build a lot of infrastructure, including hotels, a metro, and stadiums. Two million migrant workers are working on this project. But many NGOs denounce the Qatari system that allows employers to confiscate the passports of their workers to prevent them from leaving, even though they have no rights or even a minimum wage. Under pressure, Qatar is changing its laws to improve working conditions. But over a 10-year period, more than 6,500 workers have already died on World Cup construction sites. From an ecological point of view, the choice to air-condition the stadiums, which are under the open sky, is also highly criticized. After Qatar, the next World Cup to be played in 2026 will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and should be the first to include 48 teams. Today, Football is the most popular sport in the world. It is played by approximately 275 million players, 13 million of whom are women, and generates approximately 400 billion euros in profits worldwide.