Association football, also known as just football or soccer, is an outdoor team sport usually played between two groups of 11 people. It is the most popular sport in the world, with almost 250 million people playing it in more than 200 countries and political entities. The game is played in a rectangular field with goals that are placed at both ends of the said field. The object of the game is to be the first team to score more goals than the other team. Points are scored when a team scores three goals during the game.
Professional football is not just played on a field; the rules and regulations for this game have been set down by FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) and its member associations. One can play football in various parts of the world, including in the streets. However, playing this game requires more skill and endurance as well as a good physique, since kicking a football involves moving around a lot. As there are a lot of parts of the body that have to move in order to kick the ball, a lot of players have health problems and injuries before they begin playing this sport seriously. A person who plays football has to be agile, flexible, quick and strong as well as physically fit and capable of performing numerous movements. Aside from these things, a good physique is needed because the ball is often passed from one player to another while jumping and running.
To be able to participate in association football or soccer, a person needs to be above a certain age (teenagers are usually allowed to play). There are different age limits for different teams, depending on where the game is held. As for teams that participate in the World Cup, age limits are different, but the most common age limit is 15 years old. The game of football is played between two competing teams and is considered a worldwide phenomenon.