National Soccer Day Date in the current year: July 28, 2026

Association football, commonly referred to as football or soccer, is a team sport in which two teams of eleven players each try to kick a ball into the opposing team’s net, with only the goalkeepers allowed to handle the ball during normal play.

The word “football” entered the English language as early as the 14th century as an umbrella term for various ball games, as evidenced by a number of decrees banning the sport. The codification of modern forms of football began in the 19th century. The earliest surviving written code of a football game is the Rugby School Rules, developed in 1845.

Association football was codified by named after the Football Association, which was founded in London in 1863. The word “soccer” originated as an abbreviation of “association”. As association football became the dominant code in the UK and many other countries, it came to be known simply as “football”. However, in countries where another form of football is more popular, such as the United States, it is often called “soccer”.

Soccer occupies an unusual position among other team sports in the United States. On the one hand, it is one of the most widely played sports in the country, particularly among children. Unlike many American sports, youth soccer has relatively balanced participation between boys and girls, and the success of the U.S. women’s national team has contributed significantly to its visibility.

On the other hand, this popularity is not fully reflected in soccer’s television audiences. Major League Soccer (MLS) receives considerably less media attention and has smaller television audiences than the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Hockey League (NHL). American soccer fans tend to be more interested in major international tournaments, such as the FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by the United States in 2026 jointly with Canada and Mexico. Meanwhile, the viewership of national regular-season games is less impressive.

National Soccer Day’s origins are somewhat murky, but it has reportedly been celebrated since the mid-1990s. There are many fun ways to celebrate: you play soccer or at least kick a soccer ball with friends in the yard, teach your kids to play or sign them up for a trial class, learn interesting facts about the sport, attend or watch a match, support your local club, and spread the word about the holiday using #NationalSoccerDay.

Given the popularity of soccer, it’s no surprise that National Soccer Day is not the only holiday dedicated to the sport. Several South American countries, as well as Kazakhstan and Ukraine, celebrate Football Day on June 9, April 25, and April 29, respectively. Additionally, World Football Day is celebrated globally on May 25.