Why Is Football Called Soccer in the United States?
Football captivates millions worldwide, yet in the United States and Canada, two of the 2026 World Cup hosts, the sport goes by a different name: soccer. The question is why these nations prefer this term and whether it bothers fans elsewhere.
Origins of the Term Soccer
Stefan Szymanski, an emeritus professor at the University of Michigan who grew up in England during the 1960s and 1970s, recalls that "soccer" was once a perfectly acceptable word there. He found the football versus soccer debate quite odd and began investigating. His research revealed that in the 1970s, the word didn’t seem problematic to most people.
Back in the 1860s, football was considered a sport of the elite. The Football Association founders were Oxford graduates from prestigious public schools. The game played under their rules was called "association football," a term used to distinguish it from rugby football, another popular sport at the time.
How Soccer Came to Be
In the late 19th century, university students in England developed a habit of shortening words and adding "-er" as slang. For example, "breakfast" became "brekker," and "rugby" turned into "rugger." It’s believed that "soccer" originated similarly, by taking "soc" from "association" and adding "-er." Though no one knows for sure, multiple sources confirm this slang started at Oxford.
Sports historian Andy Mitchell found examples of "soccer" or "socker" printed in English school magazines as early as 1885, suggesting the term had been in spoken use before then. Over time, "socker" faded away, but "soccer" remained.
Soccer’s Journey Across the Globe
As association football spread worldwide, so did the term "soccer." It took root in countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada. In the United States, the situation is unique because "football" refers to American football, a distinct sport with roots linked to rugby but also influenced by soccer.
Szymanski explains the close relationship between American football and soccer helps explain why the word "soccer" stuck in the US. Both sports evolved around the same time in the late 1800s, making the terms closely connected.
Shifting Preferences in Terminology
British newspapers used both "football" and "soccer" well into the 1980s. Eventually, "football" became the preferred term in the UK, while "soccer" continued mainly in countries where other types of football dominated.
When teaching at university, Szymanski notices American students often apologize for using "soccer," worried it might offend British sensibilities. He reassures them that "soccer" is originally an English word, so they shouldn’t hesitate to use it.
