Why is England called the home of football?
England is called the home of football because the modern rules of association football, or soccer, were first written down there in 1863, when the Football Association was founded in London. England also has the world's oldest football clubs and competitions.
Before 1863, different schools and clubs played football with their own rules. Some allowed handling the ball, while others did not.
On 26 October 1863, representatives of clubs met at the Freemasons' Tavern in London and formed the Football Association. They agreed on a common set of rules, separating football from rugby.
Oldest clubs and competitions
Sheffield FC, founded in 1857, is recognized as the world's oldest football club. The FA Cup, first played in 1871 and 1872, is the oldest national football competition in the world.
The first international football match was played between England and Scotland in 1872.
The Football League, founded in 1888, was the world's first professional football league.
The England song Three Lions, with its famous line about football coming home, refers to England's role as the birthplace of the modern game.