Soccer, also known as Football, is a team sport of human origin. The game was considered to be one of the most popular games on Earth, and spread to other worlds as humanity joined the interstellar community.
Soccer is played between two teams of 11 players each, on a rectangular grass field with a goal on each end. The object of the game is to maneuver the ball into the opposing team's goal, while preventing the opposing team from doing the same. With the exception of the goalkeepers, players are not allowed to use their hands or arms to maneuver the ball.
Professional soccer[]
Professional soccer enjoyed popularity throughout much of the world in the 20th century, and continued to attract fans even in the United States into the 2020s. (DS9 episode: "Past Tense, Part II")
Tragically, soccer also commonly seemed to spur violent behavior and rioting, even after the establishment of a United Earth. (TOS novel: Strangers from the Sky)
The World Cup was the championship tournament for soccer on Earth. The English football team qualified for the World Cup championships in 2152. (ENT episode: "Minefield")
By the 24th century, as soccer spread to other worlds, the Federation Cup became the championship competition. (SCE eBook: Many Splendors)
One of the most popular soccer players of the mid 24th century was Golanga. However, he sustained a knee injury in 2366, and had to receive a bio-implant replacement, which significantly impacted his play. (DS9 episode: "Paradise")
Belinda Gomez was a standout soccer player in the 2360s, often playing against rival team, the Stars. Her career also was ended by a knee injury. (SCE eBook: Many Splendors)
Non-professional play[]
Lee Kelso excelled at soccer while at Starfleet Academy, as well as in gliding and surfing. (TOS comic: "Who's Who in Star Trek 1")
In the year 2266, a team from the USS Enterprise played a game of soccer in a stadium against a gorilla from Angoma, who used his superior agility to beat them 16-2. (TOS comic: "Beware the Beast")
As a 13-year-old, Worf led one of the local youth soccer teams on Gault. While playing against another team, there was an accident in which Worf and another boy named Mikel had a collision, which led to fatal head injuries for Mikel. (DS9 episode: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")
Ensign Sam Lavelle kept a soccer ball in his quarters aboard the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG episode: "Lower Decks")
External links[]
- Soccer article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Association football article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.