Definition

Noun: 1. A team sport played between two teams of eleven players each, primarily using the feet to propel a spherical ball, with the objective of scoring by getting the ball into the opposing team's goal. This is the formal name for the sport commonly known as soccer in some countries, distinguishing it from other codes of football.

Usage

• The term "association football" is used in formal, historical, or technical contexts to specify the sport governed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA.
• It is often used to differentiate this sport from other types of football, such as rugby football or American football.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "The beautiful game": A common poetic nickname for association football, emphasizing its aesthetic and global appeal.
  • He fell in love with the beautiful game as a child.

Variants and Related Words

• Football (n): The common name for the sport in most of the world. (Note: In this context, "football" is synonymous with "association football," but the meaning depends on regional usage.)
• Soccer (n): A common name for the sport, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia, and some other countries.
• Footy (n, informal): A casual, chiefly British and Australian, shortening of "football."

Synonyms

• Soccer (primarily North American, Australian, and Irish usage)

Related Phrases

• To play football/soccer: To participate in a game of association football.
  • The children play football in the park every evening.
• Football match / Soccer game: An instance of playing association football.
  • We watched an exciting football match on television.

Noun

1. a football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal