by Ram ben Ze'ev
Let’s get this straight: Americans didn’t just wake up one day and decide to confuse the rest of the English-speaking world by calling football “soccer.” The truth is, if you’re British and scoffing about this, you have only yourselves to blame. Yes, dear readers, the term “soccer” was birthed on the green fields of England itself, nurtured by British ingenuity, and later adopted (and preserved) across the Atlantic.
The Birth of Soccer (Or Should We Say "Assoc'er?")
In the late 19th century, England was obsessed with kicking things. This obsession gave birth to two distinct codes: rugby football and association football. To differentiate between the two, the latter became known by the catchy moniker “assoc football.” But Victorian Brits, being the creative types they were, couldn’t just leave it at that. They added a whimsical twist. “Assoc” morphed into “soccer,” courtesy of a linguistic habit that produced words like “rugger” (for rugby). Soccer was born, and the English—yes, the English—used the term widely.
Meanwhile, Across the Pond...
When association football made its way to the United States, it had to compete with a burgeoning homegrown game. The Americans had invented their own brand of football, which involved a lot more hands than feet (let’s not dwell on the irony). They needed a way to distinguish the two sports. Along came the term “soccer,” already gift-wrapped by the British. Americans, always practical, embraced it.
Over time, American football grew into the nation’s favourite sport, and “football” became synonymous with quarterbacks, touchdowns, and commercials featuring talking frogs. To avoid confusion, “soccer” remained the go-to term for the other football.
But Wait, Didn’t the Brits Use "Soccer" Too?
Oh, absolutely. While the English now insist that “football” is the only acceptable term, history reveals that “soccer” enjoyed a good run in Britain for much of the 20th century.
Newspapers, commentators, and fans used it interchangeably with “football.” It wasn’t until the late 20th century that Brits began to drop “soccer” in favour of “football,” possibly as a reaction to the Americans clinging to it.
Ironically, the British distaste for “soccer” today is a relatively recent phenomenon. What was once a charming shorthand is now viewed by many as an affront to their national sport. But let’s be honest: if you invent a term and then export it, you can’t be too surprised when someone else keeps using it.
Two Nations Divided by a Common Language
This whole "football vs. soccer" debate is really just a microcosm of the broader linguistic quirks that divide Americans and Brits. After all, this is the same rivalry that brought us “crisps” versus “chips,” “lorry” versus “truck,” and the eternal showdown between “aluminium” and “aluminum.”
Perhaps the real lesson here is that language, like football (or soccer), evolves. The term “soccer” didn’t survive in Britain, but it thrived in the U.S., becoming as American as apple pie and… well, gridiron football. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is left wondering why Americans can’t just call football “football” like everyone else.
The Final Whistle
So, the next time you hear an American talk about soccer, don’t roll your eyes. Instead, thank the Victorian Brits who coined the term in the first place. After all, it’s not every day that the linguistic quirks of 19th-century England leave such a lasting mark on modern American culture.
And if you're still not convinced, perhaps we should settle this the old-fashioned way—with a penalty shootout. Just make sure you’re using your feet.
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev), an American, who has lived in the UK since 1989, is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue