Far removed from today’s global juggernaut, soccer was born in the well-heeled boarding schools of 19th-century England

The author of a book chronicling the evolution of the global game explores the origins of association football.

By: Thomas Adam, University of Arkansas, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 29, 2026

Words: 1,405

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Thomas Adam, University of Arkansas

Over the past two centuries, soccer – or football, as it is called in much of the English-speaking world – has become a truly global phenomenon that connects fans on all continents. It is also, come World Cup time, a deeply nationalist affair that pits teams and their fans from various countries against each other.

Yet today’s deeply competitive professional and spectator sport that spans the globe …

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