Why Americans Call It Football Not Soccer

You’ve probably wondered at some point—why is football called football in the first place? It’s one of those small but oddly fascinating cultural quirks that confuses just about everyone who visits the U.S. In most parts of the world, “football” means the game played with a round ball, kicked back and forth on a pitch.

But in the States? They say “football,” and people instantly picture helmets, shoulder pads, and end zones. It’s almost like the same word split into two completely different worlds. Strange, right? Still, if you’ve ever asked yourself why is football called football in America, there’s actually a long and tangled bit of history behind it—more interesting than you might think.

Origin of the Word ‘Football’

So, football. The term itself is older than you might think. Literally, it just meant “a game played on foot.” Which makes sense, because back in the day, some folks were playing games on horses (like polo) and others weren’t. Hence, “football.”
And speaking of how the game evolved over time, even modern matches come with their own traditions, like how long is NFL halftime, which breaks down one of the most-watched pauses in American sports.

In England, medieval football was chaotic. There weren’t many rules, everyone in town could join, and fields were basically the streets. Kick the ball and run like mad and try not to get hit by someone else. That is the football in14th century. Not exactly the neatly packaged thing we watch on TV today.

Medieval football games were less about skill, more about sheer chaos and survival. Sometimes towns banned them because people got hurt. But the name stuck, even as the game itself started formalising centuries later.

History of Association Football

Fast forward a few hundred years. By the 19th century, English public schools started codifying football. Each school had its own rules, but eventually, some form of uniformity was needed. This led to what we now call association football — the structured version that would later inspire different branches of the game, including American football, which has its own set of fascinating plays like a safety in football.

• 1863: The Football Association is formed in England.
  
• Rules get standardized.
  
• Kicking the ball = main focus.
  
• Hands? Only for the goalkeeper.
  

Basically, association football became soccer—but wait, why “soccer”?

Etymology of ‘Soccer’

This one’s fun. You know how Brits say “football” but Americans say “soccer”? Well, “soccer” comes from association football. In the late 19th century, students at Oxford started calling it “assoc football.” Then they slang-ified it: “assoc” → “soccer.”

Yeah. Soccer literally comes from England, not from U.S.A Surprising to the most people, right?

Why is Football in America Football?

Football in America descends from rugby, which itself came from early versions of football. So, why is football called football if it’s mostly played by hand? In the beginning, Americans were playing a rougher hand-based game but kept the name because of its roots in the original “foot-ball” sports of England.

Here’s the kicker: even though they mostly use their hands, the name stayed. Why? Tradition. Culture. And maybe a little stubbornness.

• Rugby football history: Football split into rugby and association football.
  
• American adoption: U.S. colleges loved rugby, but modified rules.
  
• The gridiron: The distinct American football field with its lines and downs? That’s the American twist.
  

A Brief History of Football vs Soccer Naming History

As you’re reading this you might be thinking, “OK, great, but why did Americans kept calling it ‘football’ while the rest of the world didn’t?”

So here’s a rough timeline:

Year	Event
1863	England forms Football Association.
1870s	“Soccer” slang popularized at Oxford.
1880s	Football spreads to U.S. colleges via rugby-like games.
1900s	American football becomes distinct, keeps the name.
1920s	Soccer as term grows in U.S. to distinguish from American football.

Basically, both names existed. U.S. picked football. Everyone else stuck with football too—but soccer remained as the alternate term in English-speaking countries.

Football Terminology Origins

Let’s talk terms. Why do Americans say touchdown, And Brits say a goal? And why is there a “kickoff” in both games?

• Kickoff: Literally, kicking off from the game. Survived both football types.
  
• Goal: The point-scoring method in association football.
  
• Touchdown: From early American rugby/football games where you had to touch the ball down to score.
  
• Yard line: Completely American, nothing to do with soccer.
  

So even within football, terminology reflects the evolution of rules, priorities, and regional quirks.

Association Football Name Origin

Some people confuse association football and American football constantly. But here’s the simple distinction:

• Association football = kicking-focused, original “football”
  
• American football = hand-focused, gridiron game
  
• Soccer = slang for association football (from England)
  

It’s weird that the U.S. calls the hand-focused game “football,” but history explains it.

Rugby Football History

Rugby is the missing link. In England, students wanted a more physical version of football—hence rugby. Then Americans modified rugby. Then it became American football.

• Rugby rules: Running with the ball, tackling, some kicking
  
• American modifications: Downs, forward pass, protective gear
  

Without rugby, American football wouldn’t exist, and the naming would probably be different.

Football Name Etymology

So, wrapping all this into etymology:

• Football = any game played on foot
  
• Rugby football = evolved football with hand rules
  
• Association football = “football by association”
  
• Soccer = slang for association
  
• American football = derived from rugby football, keeps name because tradition
  

It is a triangle of history, language, and culture.

Quick Table: Name Comparisons

Country/Region	Common Term	Alternative Term
U.S.	Football	Soccer
U.K.	Football	Soccer (Rare)
Canada	Football (Grid Iron)	Soccer
Australia	Football (Varies By Code)	Soccer
Everywhere else	Football	Soccer (if clarification needed)

FAQs

Q1: Why do Americans say football but mostly use their hands?
A: Because American football evolved from rugby, which was called football. Tradition kept the name.

Q2: Where did the word soccer come from?
A: From “association football.” British slang in the late 1800s turned “assoc” into “soccer.”

Q3: Did medieval football involve hands or feet?
A: Mostly feet, but rules varied wildly. Some versions allowed hands. Pretty chaotic.

Q4: Why didn’t the U.S. adopt the term soccer?
A: They already had football (rugby-based) and used soccer for distinction, but football stuck culturally.

Q5: How did rugby influence American’s football?
A: American football adapted rugby rules, tackling, running with the ball, and added unique features like downs and forward passes.