Ancient Origins

Aztecs Tchatali

The first known examples of a team game involving a ball, which was made out of a rock, occurred in old Mesoamerican cultures for over 3,000 years ago. It was by the Aztecs called Tchatali, although various versions of the game were spread over large regions. In some ritual occasions, the ball would symbolize the sun and the captain of the losing team would be sacrificed to the gods. A unique feature of the Mesoamerican ball game versions was a bouncing ball made of rubber – no other early culture had access to rubber.

Ancient China: Cuju

One of the earliest known forms of soccer is Cuju, which was played in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Cuju, meaning “kick ball,” involved players kicking a round leather ball filled with feathers through a small opening into a net. It was used as a military training exercise and gradually became a popular sport. A modified form of this game later spread to Japan and was by the name of kemari practiced under ceremonial forms.

Ancient Greece and Rome:Episkyros and Harpastum

In ancient Greece, a game called Episkyros involved two teams trying to throw a ball over the heads of the opposing team. The Romans adopted a similar game called Harpastum, which was more physical and involved a smaller ball. These games were more about handling the ball rather than kicking it, but they laid the groundwork for the team aspect of soccer.

Medieval Europe: Mob Football

During the Middle Ages, various forms of “mob football” were played in towns and villages across Europe. These games were often chaotic, with few rules and large numbers of players attempting to move a ball to a specific area. These matches could be violent and were occasionally banned by authorities due to their disruptive nature.