Football, or soccer, is one of the oldest organized sports in history.  In the 1850s, the sport began to be standardized and developed the first stages of modern day rules.  As the standardized sport gained popularity, sports clubs emerged and competition flourished.  By 1870s, the sport showed the first flashes of its future as an international phenomenon.

On this day, November 30th, in 1872, the first international soccer game was played.  The match was played between England and Scotland and resulted in a 0-0 tie.  1872 also became the first year that the FA Cup was played between English teams; a tradition that continues today.

Today nearly every country has professional and international soccer teams.  Every four years, the FIFA World Cup is held, inviting international teams to compete for football dominance.  The World Cup is one of the most heavily watched sporting events in the world.