Why Is Football Called Football in the USA?

By Emma Wilson · November 21, 2026

Why Is Football Called Football in the USA?

In the United States, the term “football” refers to American football, a sport that evolved from rugby and soccer but emphasizes forward passing and physical contact. Despite minimal use of feet compared to sports like soccer (known as “football” globally), it is called “football” due to its historical roots in 19th-century forms of gridiron football where the ball was primarily advanced by foot or hand while running. The name stuck as the sport formalized under collegiate rules, particularly through early standardization at universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

The Origins of the Name “Football” in America

The naming of American football traces back to the mid-1800s when various forms of football were played across U.S. colleges. These games combined elements of rugby, soccer, and indigenous rough-and-tumble sports.

Early Forms of College Football

Harvard students played a game called “Boston Rounders” in the 1820s, which involved carrying the ball with hands.
In 1869, Rutgers and Princeton played what is often considered the first intercollegiate football game using rules similar to soccer.
By the 1870s, Harvard adopted a rugby-style game, allowing running with the ball—a key divergence from soccer.
The Intercollegiate Football Association formed in 1876, adopting rugby rules, laying groundwork for modern American football.

How Rugby Evolved Into American Football

Unlike association football (soccer), American football developed from rugby football, where players could carry and pass the ball laterally or backward. This distinction explains why “football” does not require extensive foot use.

Key Differences Between Soccer, Rugby, and American Football

Sport	Primary Ball Movement	Hand Use Allowed?	Forward Pass Legal?	Origin Era
Association Football (Soccer)	Feet	Limited (goalkeeper only)	No	1863
Rugby Football	Hands and feet	Yes	No	1845
American Football	Hands (passing/running)	Yes	Yes (1906 NCAA rule)	1876
Canadian Football	Hands	Yes	Yes	1861

Table data source:1, 2

The table shows that American football diverged significantly from soccer by legalizing the forward pass and prioritizing hand-based advancement. Despite this, the “football” label persisted due to its lineage from rugby football, not association football. The name reflects historical continuity rather than current gameplay mechanics.

Why Not Call It Something Else?

Given that players mostly use their hands, many non-Americans question why the sport isn't called something more descriptive, like “rugby-ball” or “handball.” However, several factors explain the retention of “football”:

Historical inertia: Once established in college athletics, renaming would have caused confusion.
Institutional adoption: The Intercollegiate Football Association and later the NFL cemented the name.
National identity: By the early 20th century, “football” had become synonymous with fall sports culture in the U.S.
Distinction from soccer: As soccer gained global popularity, Americans maintained “football” for their native sport to preserve cultural distinction.

Global Confusion Around the Term “Football”

The U.S. usage of “football” contrasts sharply with the rest of the world, where over 250 million players refer to soccer as football (3). This causes frequent misunderstandings:

In the UK, “football” means soccer; American football is often called “gridiron.”
In Australia, both Australian Rules Football and soccer are called “footy” colloquially.
In Canada, the CFL plays “football,” closely related to the U.S. version but with distinct rules.

This linguistic divergence highlights how sports names evolve within cultural contexts rather than logical consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions About Why Football Is Called Football in the USA

Why do Americans call it football if they mostly use their hands?

Americans call it football because the sport originated from 19th-century forms of rugby football and soccer, collectively known as “football” games played on foot (not horseback). Even though hands dominate play today, the historical name remained after standardization in U.S. colleges.

When did American football get its name?

The term “American football” emerged in the late 1800s to distinguish the U.S. version from association football (socer) and rugby football. By 1880, with Walter Camp's rule changes, the sport became distinct enough to warrant the unique identifier, though it was simply called “football” domestically.

Is American football related to soccer?

Yes, distantly. Both American football and soccer evolved from traditional British “football” games. Early versions of American football used soccer-like rules before shifting toward rugby. However, modern American football shares almost no gameplay similarities with soccer beyond the shared name origin.

Do other countries recognize American football as “football”?

Most non-American countries do not consider American football to be “football” in the traditional sense. Outside North America, the term typically refers to soccer. In international contexts, American football is often specified as “gridiron” or “NFL-style” football to avoid confusion.

Could the U.S. ever switch to calling soccer “football”?

It’s highly unlikely. “Football” is deeply embedded in American culture, media, and education systems. While Major League Soccer uses “football” internationally, domestic audiences still call it “soccer.” Language trends suggest both terms will coexist, mirroring bilingual usages in other nations.