What is the Evolution of Soccer? Charles Darwin once stated, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Though Darwin might’ve been talking about the evolution of species, the idea of evolution stays true to sports, including soccer. Soccer has evolved in so many ways from where it all took place, to it’s transition to today, to the equipment, and the impact it’s left all around the world. When observing a sport as popular as soccer, it’s hard to imagine that it’s origin is difficult to find. “Records trace the history of soccer back more than 2,000 years ago to ancient China,” ("Athletic Scholarships"). Although, England is credited for transitioning soccer. England invented a sport of running around kicking a ball in the mid-19th century. “The idea of moving the ball towards the opponent’s goal by passing it from player to player was invented in Scotland in the early 20th century,” (@tonykaron "No, England Did NOT Invent Football (Soccer) As We Know It" 2012). Brazil’s dominance in soccer began in the 1950s, leading them to the FIFA World Cup, the biggest …show more content…
Back in the 18th and early-19th century, soccer was looked down upon in many parts of the world and didn’t start getting attention until England picked it up. Since then, people from all around have shown their love for the sport. “According to a 2001 FIFA survey, over 240 million people regularly play soccer in more than 200 countries, in every part of the world,” (Starkebaum "Soccer's influence in the United States" 2016). Soccer has become so global that hundreds of countries around the world compete for 31 spots in the FIFA world cup, which happens every four years. The simplicity of soccer has allowed people in all corners of the world to play soccer, regardless of economic or social