England

The rules of modern soccer were standardized in the 19th century in England. With the establishment of the Football Association in 1863, the first unified rulebook was created, which is considered the birth of modern soccer. While other countries such as Brazil and Italy have also contributed to the development of football, it was England that standardized the rules of soccer.

1993

The Japan Professional Football League, commonly known as the J.League, was established in 1993. At the time in Japan, there was a major movement toward creating a professional football league, and the league was founded to raise the level of football in Asia and to promote the sport more broadly. In its inaugural year, 10 teams participated, and since then many clubs have joined, expanding the league’s scale and influence.

football

Soccer is widely known around the world by the name “football.” In the United Kingdom, “football” generally refers to soccer, whereas in the United States, the term “soccer” is commonly used. This distinction is made to differentiate it from American football.

1998

The Japan national team made its first World Cup appearance at the tournament held in France in 1998. At that time, Japan lost all three matches in the group stage, but since then it has regularly qualified for the World Cup and has established itself as one of Asia’s top teams.

Archie Thompson

On April 11, 2001, Australia’s Archie Thompson scored 13 goals against American Samoa in the OFC Nations Cup qualifiers. This is the record for the most goals by a single player in an official international match, and as a result Australia won 31–0. This match is known as the most lopsided score in soccer history.

10〜12km

Professional soccer players are said to run approximately 10–15 km during a 90-minute match. The distance can vary slightly by position, with midfielders tending to cover more ground, but this range serves as a general guideline for total distance run.

Uruguay

The inaugural FIFA World Cup was held in 1930 in Uruguay. In this tournament, the host nation Uruguay claimed victory, etching its name in the history of football. In the final, they defeated Argentina 4–2 to become the very first champions. This memorable tournament is the origin of today’s grand World Cup.

defensive midfielder

A volante refers to a defensive midfielder. Positioned centrally on the pitch, they focus on defense while also serving as a crucial starting point for attacks. They are responsible for disrupting the opponent’s offense and contribute by winning the ball in midfield and controlling the tempo of the game.

hand

Under the Laws of the Game in soccer, players are generally not allowed to play the ball with their hands. This rule does not apply to the goalkeeper, so any outfield player who touches the ball with their hand will be penalized for a handball. However, if the ball touches a player’s hand or arm as part of an unintentional, natural movement, it may not be judged a handball.

Qatar

The FIFA World Cup held in 2022 took place in Qatar. It was the first World Cup hosted by a Middle Eastern country, and it was also staged during what is typically the hottest period in World Cup history, which is why the matches were played in the winter. It drew attention for the various measures implemented, such as air conditioning in the stadiums and adjustments to the schedule.