Footballisaballgameplayedbetweentwoteamsofelevenplayers,eachattemptingtowinbyscoringmoregoalsthantheiropponent.Footballisplayedpredominantlywiththefeet,butplayersmayuseanypartoftheirbodyexcepttheirhandsandarmstopropeltheball;theexceptionstothisarethetwogoalkeepers,whoaretheonlyplayersallowedtohandletheballinthefieldofplay,albeitwithrestrictions.

　　ThesportisalsoknownbyothernamesinsomepartsoftheEnglish-speakingworld,usuallysoccerorassociationfootball.Thesenamesareoftenusedtodistinguishthegamefromothercodesoffootball,sincetheword"football"maybeusedtorefertoseveralquitedifferentgames.

　　Footballisplayedataprofessionallevelallovertheworld,andmillionsofpeopleregularlygotoafootballstadiumtofollowtheirfavouriteteam,whilstmillionsmoreavidlywatchthegameontelevision.Averylargenumberofpeoplealsoplayfootballatanamateurlevel.

　　AccordingtoasurveyconductedbyFédérationInternationaledeFootballAssociation(FIFA),football'sgoverningbody,publishedinthespringof2001,over240millionpeopleregularlyplayfootballinmorethan200countriesineverypartoftheworld.Itssimplerulesandminimalequipmentrequirementshavenodoubtaideditsspreadandgrowthinpopularity.Inmanypartsoftheworldfootballevokesgreatpassionsandplaysanimportantroleinthelifeofindividualfans,localcommunities,andevennations;itisthereforeoftenclaimedtobethemostpopularsportintheworld