Football is a contact sport in which the aim is to score more goals than your opponent in the 90-minute playing time. The game is divided into two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute half-time. After the second 45-minute half-time, the match will resume with an additional 15-minute half-time break, which is called injury time. The goalkeeper and kicker are the only players allowed to enter the penalty area.
It was the working class of the 19th century who first embraced the game. In the 1850s, big matches were attended by 30,000 spectators. The popularity of the sport spread quickly, as British expatriates began to travel abroad, bringing the game to new climes. Football quickly spread to South America and India. In the twentieth century, it surpassed rugby union and cricket in popularity. It is still one of the most popular sports in the world today, despite the growing professionalisation of the sport.
Football is played between two teams, each of which consists of eleven players. Each team plays on offense and defense, and takes turns being on offense and defense. However, football isn’t just played on offense, as special teams can score points even while they’re on defense. The NFL also operates the NFL Europa league, with teams in five German cities and the Netherlands. The professional Canadian Football League also has teams. In addition to the United States, football is also popular in Mexico and American Samoa.