The term ‘soccer’ originated in Britain but became prevalent in the U.S. due to the evolution of football terminology. The sport began formalization in 1863, leading to differentiation from rugby. The Oxford University coined “soccer” as a shorthand, which gained official status in the U.S. and other countries with competing football types.

The term “soccer” in the United States, while often thought to be an Americanism, actually originates from Britain. This distinction arises mainly due to the evolution of the sport and the differences in terminology between countries.

Football-type games date back centuries, but the modern sport began in 1863 when England’s Football Association established formal rules. This led to the differentiation between association football and rugby football; the latter allowed for carrying the ball.

To distinguish between the two sports, students at Oxford University coined the terms “rugger” for rugby and “assoccer” for association football. Over time, “assoccer” was shortened to “soccer,” although it remained a mere nickname in Britain well into the 20th century.

In contrast, as rugby gained popularity, association football became simply known as football in Britain. Meanwhile, American football emerged in the late 19th century, integrating elements from both rugby and association football, which led to the use of “soccer” in the U.S. to identify the latter sport.

The United States Football Association was formed in the 1910s and rebranded as the United States Soccer Football Association in 1945, fully adopting “soccer” as its official title. This terminology was also adopted in several countries with varying types of football, such as Canada, Ireland, and Australia, to avoid ambiguity in sports discussions.

Original Source: www.britannica.com