It is impossible to say when soccer was first played. People have been kicking objects around for fun since time immemorial. The modern version of the game, however, clearly began in 1863, in England. That was when the London Football Association published the first set of soccer rules. Besides setting the rules, the association gave the game its formal name: association football. The popular term “soccer” is thought to be derived from “association.”

很难说人们第一次玩足球始于何时。自古以来人们为了取乐就将身边的东西踢来踢去。然而球赛的现代版本确实是在1863年始于英国。当时正是伦敦足球协会出版了第一套足球规则。除了制定规则，这个协会还为球赛取了一个正式的名称：英式足球。众人皆知的名称“足球”被认为是由“协会”这个词衍生而来。

(短文节选,本篇始于：世足热蔓延全亚洲)