FOOTBALL: 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES

Ancient origins (before the 19th century)

Football can trace its roots back to ball games. These games have been played in various cultures throughout history.

Ancient China : The game known as ‘cuju’, meaning ‘to kick the ball’, was played during the Han dynasty with rules similar to modern football, but played with a leather ball.
Ancient Greece and Rome : Games such as ‘Harpastum’, a kind of ball game with rules similar to scrimmage, were played.
The Middle Ages : In Europe, ball games were played in villages, often without precise rules and with matches involving hundreds of players.

Video example : Take a look at the ‘cuju’ example

The Birth of Modern Football

In the 19th century, modern football was born in England, with schools creating their own versions of the sport.

1863 : The creation of the Football Association (FA) marked a major turning point, with the creation of common rules and a ban on touching the ball with the hands (except for the goalkeeper).

Here is the Football Association (FA) logo :
Logo de la FA

International Expansion

Football spread rapidly around the world and was adopted in a number of countries, including :

South America : Countries like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have become football enthusiasts.
Continental Europe : Spain, Italy and France have enthusiastically embraced football.
Africa and Asia : These regions also adopted sport in the 20th century, influenced by the colonial powers.

Modern football and the World Cup

1930 : The first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay, a major event in the history of football.
Football development : Football has become a professional competition with leagues such as the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga.

Football in our time

Today, football is the most followed and played sport in the world, with professional leagues everywhere.

Technological development : Innovations such as video refereeing (VAR) have improved the fairness of matches.
The iconic players : Legends such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have left their mark on the history of modern football.

Football Today

Football today is not just about winning, but also about club budgets, players, stadiums and coaches.

Football has changed a lot over the years, and some of the best players this planet has ever seen have left no one indifferent.