Why is Football called Soccer?

Summary

Who Smarted? – “Why is Football called Soccer?”

Date: July 13, 2026
Hosts: Adam Tex Davis (Trusty Narrator), Leo, Ryan Spivak

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Trusty Narrator and friends untangle one of sports’ great mysteries: Why do some people call the world’s favorite game “soccer” while the rest call it “football”? With humor, sound effects, and world-hopping time travel, the team explores the sport's history, the evolution of its names across continents, gameplay facts, and a few surprising cultural tidbits. Perfect for curious kids (and their adults), it’s a rapid-fire learning journey packed with trivia, memorable quotes, and playful banter.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Great Name Debate

• Football vs. Soccer: In most countries it's "football," but in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it's "soccer."
  • “Depending where you live, the same sport is called either football or soccer.” (Adam, 02:36)
  • Ongoing playful bickering between Leo (football) and Ryan (soccer) for comic relief.

2. The Origins of the Game

• Ancient Beginnings

  • Time travel to 206 BCE, Han Dynasty China.
    • “There’s evidence from over 2,000 years ago that during the Han Dynasty, there was a military drill called Su ju, which literally means kicking the ball.” – Leo (06:34)
  • Early game: Soldiers pass a leather-and-feather ball using everything but their hands.
    • “It looks more like a game you’d play in a park or on a field than a military drill.” (Adam, 06:48)
  • Spread throughout Asia including Japan, Vietnam, and Korea.

• Folk Football in Medieval Europe

  • Fast forward to mid-1400s England.
    • “Basically, the goal was to kick, throw and carry a leather ball made of pig’s bladder from point A to point B. It was quite a violent game with few rules and lots of injuries.” – Leo (08:11)
  • Eventually, the Football Association formed in 1860s London, bringing official rules.

3. Football’s (Soccer’s) Rules and Terms

• Modern Game Innovations

  • Only one player can touch the ball with hands: “Who is the only player allowed to use their hands when the ball is in play? If you said the goalkeeper, you’re right.” – Adam (09:25)
  • Throw-ins are an exception, but technically, the ball isn’t “in play” during them.

• The Pitch and Player Positions

  • “Pitch is the word Europeans use for the playing field.” – Leo (09:07)
  • Lineups are flexible with various formations (forwards, fullbacks, midfielders), plus a goalie for each team.

4. The Word “Soccer”

• “The word soccer evolved by shortening the term associated football.” – Leo (09:58)
• Americans preferred “soccer” to avoid confusion with gridiron/American football.
  • “As the sport made its way over to Central, South and even North America... the Americans decided to just go with soccer.” (Leo, 10:16)
  • Irony: the international governing body is still FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

5. The World’s Most Popular Game

• Global Stats: Played by over 250 million people in 200+ countries.
  • “[T]here’s no denying it is the world’s most popular sport…” – Adam (03:11)
• World Cup Mania: Every four years, billions tune in.
  • “The World Cup truly is a global event… businesses close and it becomes a mini holiday.” – Adam (11:43)
  • “A series of matches takes place between qualifying countries until there’s only one winner. And they have World Cups for both men’s and women’s soccer.” – Leo (11:34)

6. Cards and Penalties

• Yellow & Red Cards
  • “Why is everyone so upset about a plastic red card?” (Adam, 15:34)
  • “That means the player has been ejected from the game.” – Leo (15:34)
  • “Usually you get a yellow card first as a warning. But two yellow cards equal a red card.” – Leo (15:40)
• Impact: Red card = team must play short one player.

7. Timing and Gameplay Oddities

• Game Clock: Never stops for injuries or out-of-bounds.
  • “In soccer, the clock never stops. This keeps the flow of the game going. …the ref will… add on time at the end of each 45-minute half…” – Leo (17:20)
• Number of Players: “While there are 11 players on the field for each team, there are 22 players on the field at the same time.” – Adam (16:10)
• Player Positions: Forwards (score), Fullbacks/Defenders, Midfielders (run the most).
  • “They [coaches] might have two forwards, four midfielders and four fullbacks... Or they could have four forwards, three midfielders and three fullbacks. It's up to each team to decide.” – Leo (16:48)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you said a sporting event, you’re right. But what sport am I watching? Here are some hints. Did some of you say a soccer game? Did some of you say a football match? What if I said you’re both right?” – Adam, opening fun with listeners (01:30)
• “Where I grew up in Mexico, everybody played soccer, or what we and many others around the world refer to as football.” – Leo (04:01)
• “I once had a burrito for lunch and then pizza for dinner. But that doesn’t seem as impressive.” – Adam (04:44)
• “It’s like the Olympics, except only for soccer.” – Adam, on the World Cup (11:29)
• “In baseball, they call the championship the World Series. But the World Cup truly is a global event…” – Adam (11:43)
• “Oh, looks like someone’s hurt. I noticed the game clock doesn’t stop even though the game has stopped because of the injured player.” – Adam (17:04)
• “Hey, trustee, you just missed the best goal ever.” – Ryan, classic comic timing (17:50)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|------------------| | Name debate begins: Football vs. Soccer | 02:36 – 05:17 | | Time travel to ancient China (Su ju) | 06:01 – 07:51 | | Medieval Europe and early violent football | 08:02 – 08:56 | | Modern rules & formation of Football Assoc.| 08:56 – 09:25 | | Derivation of “Soccer” | 09:58 – 10:34 | | World Cup explained | 10:56 – 11:43 | | Cards, penalties, and ejections | 15:34 – 16:17 | | Player positions & formations | 16:17 – 17:02 | | Game clock and stoppage time | 17:04 – 17:40 | | Comic conclusion (missed goal!) | 17:50 – 17:56 |

---

Speaker Attribution Guide

• Adam Tex Davis: Trusty Narrator, informative and playful, sets up questions and keeps energy high.
• Leo: Soccer (football) enthusiast from Mexico and semi-pro player, provides history and global perspective.
• Ryan Spivak: Comic foil, brings in the American "soccer" view, asks clarifying and humorous questions.

---

Tone and Style

Playful, fast-paced, and inclusive of kids’ voices and curiosity. Touches of slapstick, puns, and “Did You Know?” pop quizzes keep content lively and engaging for all ages.

---

Summary Takeaway

“Who Smarted?” brilliantly turns the soccer vs. football debate into a tour through history, language, science, and international fun. With imaginative storytelling and smart kid-focused questions, this episode unpacks why the world’s game has two names, highlights the sport’s global reach, and teaches listeners about rules, tournaments, and why a red card might just be the most important plastic rectangle in sports.

---

Perfect For: Kids, families, and classrooms looking for a snappy, meme-able explanation for why your UK cousin calls it “football” (and why the rest of the world probably agrees)!

Transcript

[Adam Tex Davis]

Hey, Smarty pants and smarty Families, have you ever listened to whosmarted and thought, I'd love to make a podcast, too? Well, now you can join me, the trusty narrator and who Smarted co creator, Adam Tex Davis, as we teach you exactly how we make our show so you can make your own. You'll learn how to come up with your own great ideas, record yourself or your friends and family, edit your episode, add music and sound effects, and even publish your very own podcast for your friends and family to hear. Over 300 families have already joined WhoSmarted podcast camp. And Smarty Pants, just like you, have created amazing shows about Greek mythology, superheroes, video games, scary stuff, yucky stuff, and lots more. It doesn't matter if you want to become a podcaster, you're going to have so much fun in podcast camp, learning so many great skills. These are creative skills that you'll use for years, and it's perfect for those hot summer afternoons or rainy days when you're stuck inside. And right now is the best time to join because our summer sale is on. From now until July 15, podcast camp is 50% off. Even better, once you sign up, Podcast Camp is yours forever. So you can learn at your own pace. And you can start this week, next month, or whenever you're ready. Plus, you're not on your own. You'll be part of our podcam community, where Tex and I answer your questions. And we even host live monthly Q and A sessions so you can ask me questions live on video. If you've ever dreamed of making your own podcast or you just want to learn how we make ours, come learn from the people who make WhoSmarted. Visit WhoSmarted.com and click on Podcast Camp before the summer sale disappears on July 15th. That's WhoSmarted.com and click podcast Camp. See you there. And now it's time for who Smarted? Hey, smartypants, trusty narrator here. Try and guess where I am. Go ahead, shout it out. If you said a sporting event, you're right. But what sport am I watching? Here are some hints. Did some of you say a soccer game? Did some of you say a football match? What if I said you're both right?

[Ryan Spivak]

Huh?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Technically. I know it's a little confusing. How could I be watching both football and soccer? But like I said, technically, both responses are correct. That's because depending where you live, the same sport is called either football or soccer. Now, some of you may be wondering, how could a sport have two names?

[Ryan Spivak]

It's soccer.

[Adam Tex Davis]

It's not soccer, it's football.

[Ryan Spivak]

Soccer.

[Leo]

Football.

[Ryan Spivak]

Oh boy.

[Adam Tex Davis]

You know what? Rather than get hung up on the name of the game, let's talk about the fame of the game. After all, whether you call it soccer, football, there's no denying it is the world's most popular sport, played by over 250 million people in over 200 countries and territories. Like my friend Ryan from Florida. Hey, trustee, I love playing soccer almost as much as I love listening to who smarted. Thanks, smarty pal. Soccer is especially popular in Europe, Central and South America and Africa. But it's also a major force in North America, Oceana and Asia. Of course, one part of North America has been soccer crazed for a long time. And that's where my friend Leo's from.

[Leo]

See me, amigo. Yes, my friend. Where I grew up in Mexico, everybody played soccer, or what we and many others around the world refer to as football.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Leo played on not one, but two semi pro soccer. I mean, football teams.

[Leo]

Yep. I started playing very young and became a pretty good midfielder. In my teens, I joined a traveling club team and began playing professionally across Mexico. A few years later, I transferred to a pro team in Europe where I played a much different. Different style of the same game.

[Ryan Spivak]

Wow.

[Adam Tex Davis]

I once had a burrito for lunch and then pizza for dinner. But that doesn't seem as impressive. Anyway, Leo, perhaps you could share what you know about soccer.

[Leo]

Oy, it's football.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Sorry, Football.

[Ryan Spivak]

Soccer.

[Adam Tex Davis]

That too, with me and the smarty pants. And answer questions like when did the sport originate? If it's called football, why can one player use their hands? Why does the clock keep running even during penalties and injuries? And why does it have two names?

[Leo]

Muy bien. Good questions.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Great. Then it's time for a whiff of sporty science and history on how smarted.

[Ryan Spivak]

Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smarted?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Okay, Leo, why is it that this amazing sport sometimes referred to as the beautiful game called soccer in the usa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand? And football? Well, pretty much everywhere else.

[Leo]

I get that question a lot. Say, Trustee, do you have your time travel app?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Are you kidding? I never leave home without it. What time period should I set it for?

[Leo]

Um, not that far. Let's start off with 206 BCE.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Seriously? That's over 2200 years ago.

[Leo]

Indeed, mi amigo.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Alrighty. Hang on. Where are we?

[Leo]

We're actually in China. Believe it or not, there's evidence from over 2,000 years ago that during the Han Dynasty, there was a military drill called Su ju, which literally means kicking the ball.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Oh yeah, I see a circle of soldiers passing a ball around while trying to keep it from hitting the ground, using everything but their hands. It looks more like a game you'd play in a park or on a field than a military drill. In fact, many soccer foot ball and or football teams use drills like this to warm up, get loose, and get a feel for the ball. Back in the day, my friends and I did something similar with a bean bag called a hacky sack.

[Leo]

Notice the ball that they're using isn't much different than the ones used today, except that it's made of a leather exterior and stuffed with feathers.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Today, soccer balls are mostly synthetic products like silicone and plastic.

[Leo]

Over the centuries, it became a game that would be played by nobility at festival gatherings and celebratory meals, in addition to everyday commoners across Asia in places like Japan, Vietnam and Korea.

[Ryan Spivak]

Wow.

[Adam Tex Davis]

So football, soccer, that too may have actually started in Asia.

[Leo]

See a trustee. Ready for the next stop on our evolution of soccer adventure?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Sure. Where should I dial in next?

[Leo]

Let's go with medieval times in the mid-1400s.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Medieval times it is. Oh boy. Leo, what's going on?

[Leo]

This, mi amigo, is what's known as folk football. It was played in towns and villages across the British Isles. Basically, the goal was to kick, throw and carry a leather ball made of pig's bladder from point A to point B. It was quite a violent game with few rules and lots of injuries.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Yikes. So when did the organized or modern day game come into play?

[Leo]

That depends upon who you ask. But in the 1860s, the Football association was formed in London, England, so that a consistent, unified set of laws or rules were installed and the game be played on a proper pitch.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Pitch? But we're not talking about baseball, smarty pants. What does pitch mean when it comes to football or soccer? Is it the ball, the playing field, or. Or your cleats?

[Leo]

The answer is pitch is the word Europeans use for the playing field.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Nice job if you got that. So Leo, what's an example of a rule that was put into place?

[Leo]

The most obvious would be that only one player is allowed to use his or her hands to touch the ball when it's in play.

[Ryan Spivak]

Hmm.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smartypants. Who is the only player allowed to use their hands when the ball is in play? If you said the goalkeeper, you're right. Now some of you might be thinking, what about a throw in? Well, it's true that soccer players pick up the ball and throw it back into play when it goes out of bounds on either sideline. But since the ball is out of bounds, technically it's not in play. Only the goalie can touch the ball with their hands while it is in play, and only inside the designated goalie box.

[Leo]

As the game continued to develop in Europe, students at Oxford University decided they needed to distinguish this sport from other forms of football, such as rugby. The word soccer evolved by shortening the term associated football.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Makes sense, I think.

[Leo]

As the sport made its way over to Central, south and even North America by the end of the 19th century, the Americans decided to just go with soccer so as not to confuse it with gridiron football or American football.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Ah, makes sense.

[Leo]

Ironically, the governing body of soccer is known as FIFA, which stands for the Federation International de Football Association.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Gotcha. Should we head back to the future?

[Leo]

Not yet. There's one more stop in 2020.

[Ryan Spivak]

Whoa.

[Adam Tex Davis]

We're at a soccer game, but not the one we were watching.

[Leo]

No, trustee. We're actually at the final match to determine the best team in the world.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smarty pants, do you know the name of the international soccer tournament to determine the world's best team? If you said the World cup, you're right.

[Leo]

Every four years, the World cup is held in a different location and is viewed by billions of fans from around the globe.

[Ryan Spivak]

Whoa.

[Adam Tex Davis]

It's like the Olympics, except only for soccer.

[Ryan Spivak]

Football?

[Adam Tex Davis]

That too.

[Leo]

A series of matches takes place between qualifying countries until there's only one winner. And they have World Cups for both men's and women's soccer.

[Adam Tex Davis]

In baseball, they call the championship the World Series. But the World cup truly is a global event, and in many places, businesses close and it becomes a mini holiday on days that their country is playing in the World Cup. Oh, no. What's going on, Leo?

[Leo]

That was a pretty bad penalty for tackling.

[Adam Tex Davis]

But isn't tackling allowed in football?

[Leo]

Not this football. When one player is dribbling the ball with his feet and an opponent slides into their ankles or legs before hitting the ball, it's a penalty.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Ouch. Looks painful. And now the ref is pulling out something from his pocket. Everyone seems pretty upset. Smarty pants. What happened to make everyone so upset? We'll find out right after this quick break. Hey, smarty parents. I have to tell you about something that's genuinely changed my life. I've been using the skylight calendar for about three months now, and I am not exaggerating when I say it has completely transformed how we organize our household. Now, you've probably seen this thing all over social media and for good reason. Setting it up was so easy. Within minutes it was pulling in everybody's schedules into one place. We're talking calendars to do, lists, tracking systems. Plus we can add recipes, notes. It's awesome. Everything's in one screen. Done. I love this thing so much that I'm already planning to give it as gifts to friends. Like, that's how good it is. And for families with kids like you, the tasks feature turns chores and routines into something that's actually fun and rewarding for the kids. No more. I didn't know I had to do that. It syncs with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and more. And if you're not 100% thrilled, you have four full months to return it for a full refund, no questions asked. Families are better when they're working together. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendars by going to myskylight.com smarted go to myskylight.com smartED for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. That is my S K Y L I G-H-T.com smarted hey, who smarted Families trusty here. You know me, always here with the facts, the stories, the wild science. And today I have an extra special book series to introduce you to. Meet the investigators. Mango and Brash are two alligator secret agents who travel through the city sewers to fight crime and solve the most wonderfully weird mysteries. If you love the puns and silly humor we throw at you on every episode of who Smarted, you're going to feel right at home. It's basically who Smarted Energy in graphic novel form. Over 4 million copies have been sold worldwide. 4 million. Now there's nine books in the series, a special edition, and a spin off. So if you plow through books, this is basically a gift. And the newest case just dropped. Investigators Whether or Not by John Patrick Greene. Where the city's water supply has been replaced with milk, the rain is turning green and monkey scientists are causing chaos. So grab your copy of Investigators whether or not at your local bookstore, library or online today. Now back to who's Smarted? Okay. After an illegal and painful sliding tackle, the referee is approaching the offending player and is pulling something out of his pocket. What could it be? An apology card to sign, a check to pay for the hurt player's medical bill, or a plastic red card? The answer is a plastic red card. Why is everyone so upset about a plastic Red card.

[Leo]

That means the player has been ejected from the game.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Oh, so if you make a penalty, you get a red card?

[Leo]

No, only certain dangerous fouls lead to cards. You usually get a yellow card first as a warning. But two yellow cards equals a red card. This player had received a yellow card earlier, so now he's out of the game and his team must now play the rest of the game short one player.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Oh, that is a big deal, smarty pants. How many players are on a soccer field at one time? 10, 11 or 22? It's a trick question. While there are 11 players on the field for each team, there are 22 players on the field at the same time.

[Leo]

Another cool thing about soccer is you can position your players in whatever formation you like. There are three groups of players, not counting the goalie. There are forwards who try to score, fullbacks or defensive players who try to stop the other team from scoring, and midfielders or halfbacks that transition from defense to offense and back again. They do the most running of anyone, but the coach can decide how many players to have at each position. For example, they might have two forwards, four midfielders and four fullbacks. Or they could have four forwards, three midfielders and three full backs. It's up to each team to decide.

[Adam Tex Davis]

And one goalie, of course.

[Leo]

Exactly.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Oh, looks like someone's hurt. I noticed the game clock doesn't stop even though the game has stopped because of the injured player. In other sports, they stop the clock for injuries or penalties or when the ball goes out of bounds. But not soccer.

[Ryan Spivak]

Football.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Right. Why is that?

[Leo]

In soccer, the clock never stops. This keeps the flow of the game going. When it comes to injuries, that's known as injury or stoppage time. The ref will look at their watch while the play has stopped and add on time at the end of each 45 minute half to make up for the amount of time the injured player was down or being treated.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Interesting. Well, we better get back to our game. My friend Ryan is there with his family. I just hope I didn't miss anything good.

[Ryan Spivak]

Hey, trustee, you just missed the best goal ever.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Drats.

[Ryan Spivak]

This is Chet Nickerson with a special shout out to an amazing smarty family, Ash, Kai and Ray Smarting with us in Berkeley, usa. We're thrilled that you love who Smarted because it's fun, funny and you learn a lot from each episode. And we love knowing that our episodes make your family think and discuss things together at breakfast, perhaps over some delicious durian fruit.

[Adam Tex Davis]

This episode, Soccer, was written by Dave Diving Header Davis and voiced by Chris Offsides Okawa. Max Crossbar Kamasky, Adam Kicks Davis and my smarty pal Ryan Spivak and Jerry Colbert. And hello, Marissa and Uncle Steve. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Handball Hahn who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Smith Scissor Kick Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.