Soccer, known as football in most countries outside North America, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting a ball into the opposing team’s net. Players primarily use their feet to control and kick the ball, although they can use their heads or torsos, while only the goalkeeper is allowed to use their hands and only within the penalty area.
Soccer is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game, established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. A standard match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each, with a break at halftime. The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins; if the score is tied, different competitions may have specific rules for a draw, including extra time or penalty shootouts.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of players and fans globally. It is also governed internationally by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), which organizes major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup. The sport emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and skill, making it an integral part of many cultures.
Former RFEF president Luis Rubiales defended his actions during the 2023 World Cup award ceremony amid allegations of an unsolicited kiss with player Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales described the kiss as…