New York (Lord Media): Football is loved by millions worldwide, but in the 2026 World Cup host countries, the United States and Canada, it is referred to as ‘soccer’. According to economist Stephen Szymanski, in the 19th century, ‘association football’ was shortened to ‘soccer’ in England. Oxford University students had a trend of shortening words, leading to the use of ‘soccer’ from ‘association’.
Historical evidence suggests the term ‘soccer’ appeared in written form in the 1880s. The term also gained popularity in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada. In the United States, the word ‘football’ became specific to American football. In Britain, ‘football’ is more commonly used, though ‘soccer’ was also in use for a long time. Experts indicate that both terms have roots in the same language and history.
