football vs. soccer
– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –
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Confusing the words “football” and “soccer” is a common mistake among English learners.
FOOTBALL
In Canadian and American English, the word “football” refers to:
the sport where an almond-shaped ball is carried and thrown from player to player into an opponent’s end zone in order to score points
the name of the almond-shaped ball that is used in the sport that is also called, “football”
NOTE
Football is considered one of the most popular sports in Canada and the number one most popular sport in the United States. Canadian high schools and universities often have their own football teams, and you can also often find adult Canadians watching CFL and NFL broadcasts (especially in the Prairies).
To refer to this sport in British or Australian English, the term “American football” is used. However, in Canadian and American English, the term “American football” is only used to differentiate the American version of the sport from the Canadian version of the sport (yes, both of these countries play football differently).
SOCCER
In Canadian and American English, “soccer” typically refers to:
the sport where a ball is kicked from player to player into an opponent’s goal in order to score points
Image by Daniel Allgyer from Pixabay.
NOTE
In British and Australian English, the word “football” refers to “soccer.”
In Canadian and American English, the word “football” is only used to refer to “soccer” when referencing the official name of an international soccer team, soccer association, soccer stadium, or soccer tournament or league. Otherwise, the word “soccer” is typically used.
In Canadian culture, soccer is a popular sport among children and teenagers. As such, it is not uncommon to see them playing soccer during recess, at a park, in a yard, or as part of a league. Soccer is not, however, as popular among adults. Instead, it is more common to see adult Canadians participating in or watching games of other sports, like hockey, football, curling, basketball, or lacrosse.
