I am an American high school student currently studying in Norway at an international school. back home, i loved the game of soccer, but here, it seems that the europeans are mad about it. And yet, they call it football here, whilst the football uneductaed masses back home in the states remain stern in calling it soccer. Where does the word soccer derive from? Where on earth did it come from, especially since its has more to do with feet than football (NFL). On a similar note, and while i hopefully have your attention, why is football (NFL) in the states called football, when it has hardly anything to do with the feet?
Chris Baeza, Lynbrook NY
The official name of soccer is “asSOCiation football”, meaning it’s played by teams.
Football is the only major American sport I can think of where one kicks the ball. I believe, in the earlier years of the sport, kicking field goals was more common than touchdowns as a way of scoring points.
And the reasons people in the USA call it soccer is because the word football was already in common use for NFL-style football. Soccer is known as football in every other english-speaking country.
… except Canada, which last time I checked wasn’t a part of the USA 
My bad! :o I knew a Candian that said “football” when referring to soccer, so I assumed. But then this Canadian was originally from Scotland, so there you go.
For the full story, go to:
http://randomhouse.com/wotd/?date=19990806
“The dawn of a new era is felt and not measured.” Walter Lord
Thanks!! The website address really helped!!