Is soccer the same as football?

Yes, soccer and football refer to the same sport — association football — in most contexts. 'Soccer' is primarily used in the United States, Canada, Australia, and a few other countries to distinguish it from their own dominant football codes. Everywhere else, the sport is simply called 'football.'

Why do Americans call it soccer and not football?

The word 'soccer' derives from 'association' — as in the Football Association — and was actually coined in England in the late 19th century. It spread to North America, where it was adopted to distinguish association football from American football, which had become the dominant code.

What are the official rules of football called?

The official rules are called the Laws of the Game, maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). They govern all forms of association football worldwide, from amateur to international level.

Differences Between Soccer and Football: Name, Rules, and Culture

Soccer and football are the same sport. The difference is purely terminological: most of the world says “football,” while the United States, Canada, and Australia say “soccer” to distinguish it from their own dominant football codes. The Laws of the Game are identical worldwide regardless of what the sport is called locally.

The Same Sport, Different Names

Association football — the sport governed by FIFA — is called “football” in the vast majority of countries. In a handful of countries where a competing “football” code was already established, the word “soccer” was adopted to prevent confusion:

Country / Region	What they call it	Their other “football”
United Kingdom	Football	(no major competing code)
United States	Soccer	American Football (NFL)
Canada	Soccer	Canadian Football (CFL)
Australia	Soccer	Australian Rules / Rugby League
Ireland	Soccer	Gaelic Football
New Zealand	Soccer	Rugby Union
South Africa	Soccer	Rugby Union

Where the Word “Soccer” Came From

Ironically, the word “soccer” is British in origin. It was coined in the 1880s as a slang abbreviation of “association” — the full name of the sport was “association football” to distinguish it from rugby football. The abbreviation “assoc.” became “soccer” in informal British usage.

The word gradually fell out of use in Britain as it became obvious which sport “football” referred to, but it was preserved in countries where a rival code held the “football” name.

Are the Rules Identical?

Yes. The Laws of the Game are a single set of rules maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and applied globally. There is no “soccer rulebook” distinct from the “football rulebook” — they are the same document.

Some minor variations exist at different levels:

Rule area	Standard	Common variation
Match length	2 × 45 minutes	Youth: shorter halves
Pitch size	Within a defined range	Smaller pitches allowed for youth and indoor
Ball size	Size 5 for adults	Size 3–4 for younger age groups
Substitutions	Up to 5 in competitive matches (FIFA rule, adopted 2020)	Some competitions still use 3

These are adaptations for age group or competition format, not differences between “soccer” and “football.”

Cultural Differences in How the Game Is Discussed

While the rules are identical, there are some differences in how the game is discussed and broadcast between North American and international markets:

Topic	Global / European convention	North American convention
Result format	”2–1” (goals first, hyphen)	Same, but sometimes “2-1 win”
Field term	Pitch	Field or pitch
Goalkeeper	Goalkeeper or keeper	Goalkeeper or goalie
Extra time	Extra time	Overtime
Fixture draw	Draw or nil-nil	Tie or 0-0

These are presentation differences rather than rule differences, but they can cause confusion when following the sport across different media.

Why It Matters Less Now

With football’s global growth — particularly the expansion of the MLS in the United States and growing Premier League audiences worldwide — the terminology gap is closing. Younger American fans increasingly use “football” alongside “soccer,” and international audiences are familiar with both terms.

FIFA, UEFA, and all major governing bodies use “football” as the official term regardless of local convention.

Quick summary: Soccer and football are the same sport. The name difference is historical and regional — “soccer” was coined in England and preserved in countries where a different sport already held the “football” name. The rules, Laws of the Game, and governing bodies are identical worldwide.