Its a game with a lot of names : football (most of the world), soccer (US and Australia), the beautiful game (Pele) and increasingly known as 'The World Game'. But whatever you call it there is also a lot of debate as to where soccer was invented. Lets have a closer look.

Was it invented in China?

There are many accounts from Ancient China of early forms of soccer. It is impossible to know who invented the game in China, but there are accounts of something very similar being played in China in as early as 2 BC. This early form of the game involved kicking a leather ball into a net. A similar game is believed to have been played in ancient Japan, as well as being played by Native Americans. Many argue that these early forms of soccer, though, are not what influenced the game we play today as they did not spread from their point of origin.

What about Europe?

Much like China and Japan, early forms of soccer were played in Europe also. Again, it is impossible to pinpoint any individuals. Soccer was played during the Middle Ages, with neighboring villages playing games against each other. These soccer games resembled the type of games we see now in playgrounds, with uncounted players on each team, and an 'anything goes approach' to the rules and what to use as a ball. The players worked together to move the ball towards a landmark, rather than a goal, but was starting to show signs of the game we play today.

The Individuals Who Played a Role

An Eton student during the 16th century called Richard Mulcaster did a lot of writing on the sport. Many believe that it is these writings that set up the organized rules of the game. A schoolmaster called J.C. Thring also had a hand in the evolution of the game, and helped to set up rules at the school where he worked. These rules, called the Uppingham Rules, standardized the game (each school had been playing with its own rules), and Thring is considered one of the individuals who invented modern soccer.