Understanding tactics, coaching a youth team or simply enjoying matches more all start with good material, and there is plenty of it. The trick is choosing reliable sources and applying what you learn to what you watch. The rules Start with the source: the Laws of the Game, published free online by the IFAB, with … Read more
Soccer already has a global governing body, FIFA. The real debate is whether the current structure is transparent, accountable and balanced between the many interests in the game. The current structure The 2015 corruption scandal In 2015, US authorities charged a number of football officials and sports marketing executives with racketeering, wire fraud and money … Read more
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport and brings together players and fans from every background. That same visibility means racism and other forms of discrimination, in stadiums and online, have a large impact. Governing bodies, clubs, players and fans all have tools to fight it. Action during matches FIFA and UEFA use a three-step … Read more
Without fans, professional soccer would be a very different and much poorer sport. Supporters create atmosphere, fund clubs through tickets and merchandise, and in some places have a direct say in how their club is run. Home advantage Teams have historically won more often at home. When matches were played without spectators during the COVID-19 … Read more
The transfer market decides where the best players go, and money decides much of the transfer market. Understanding how it works explains why a handful of clubs win most titles, and how smaller clubs still find ways to compete. How transfers work Players under contract can move only during registration periods, the transfer windows, set … Read more
Improving at soccer comes down to touches on the ball, decision-making under pressure and the fitness to keep doing both for 90 minutes. Here is how to work on each. First touch A good first touch buys time. Practice receiving the ball with different surfaces (inside, outside, sole, thigh, chest) and directing it away from … Read more
The goalkeeper’s main job has not changed: keep the ball out of the net. But the role has expanded dramatically. Today’s goalkeepers are expected to start attacks, defend space behind a high line and organize the defense. Shot-stopping and positioning Good positioning makes saves look easy. Goalkeepers narrow the angle, stay set when the shot … Read more
Soccer has never been more popular or richer at the top. But the same forces that drive its growth create tensions that will shape its future. Financial inequality Revenue is concentrated in a few leagues and clubs, especially in Europe. The gap between the richest clubs and the rest affects competitive balance, and many lower-league … Read more
Soccer is played by hundreds of millions of people because it is simple: a ball and a space are enough. It also happens to be one of the most complete forms of exercise, combining running, sprinting, jumping and coordination with a strong social element. Physical benefits The WHO’s guidelines recommend at least 150 to 300 … Read more
For most of its history, soccer changed slowly. In the last 15 years, technology has transformed officiating, training and analysis, from the professional game down to amateur clubs with tracking apps. Officiating Connected balls Match balls with internal sensors, first used at a men’s World Cup in 2022, record the exact moment the ball is … Read more
