Soccer vs Football

Here’s something most people get completely backwards.

In Canada, we call it soccer. In England, they call it football… right?

Well, not exactly.

The word “soccer” actually comes from England. It originated in the late 1800s as slang among British students. The full name of the sport was “Association Football”, which got shortened to “Assoc” → “Soccer.”

At the same time:

• Rugby Football → “Rugger”
• Association Football → “Soccer”

So yes, the English invented the word soccer… and then later moved away from it.

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Why Canadians Still Say “Soccer”

In Canada, the term stuck for a practical reason.

We already have our own version of football:
👉 The Canadian Football League (CFL)

Teams like the Toronto Argonauts (the Argos) play a version of football that’s similar to American football, but not the same:

• Bigger field
• Bigger balls (!)
• 12 players instead of 11
• 3 downs instead of 4
• Faster, more wide-open play

So calling it “football” in Canada usually means CFL football, not what the rest of the world is talking about.

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World Cup Reality in Toronto

During the World Cup, the language gets… flexible.

You’ll hear:

• “Let’s watch the soccer game”
• “What a goal in football”

And in Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world, both are completely normal.

👉 Bottom line:
“Soccer” is English.
“Football” is global.
And in Canada, we just use whatever works.