Discover 15 Alternative Names for Soccer Used Around the World
As I was watching the Philippines women's national team—affectionately known as the Filipinas—celebrate their historic World Cup qualification, it struck me how the beautiful game we call soccer in the United States goes by so many different names worldwide. Having traveled to over thirty countries covering football tournaments, I've collected quite the vocabulary for what seems like the simplest of sports. Just last year, during the AFC Women's Asian Cup where the Filipinas secured their World Cup spot, I found myself constantly switching between terms depending on who I was speaking with—from Australian coaches calling it "football" to American commentators insisting on "soccer."
The terminology debate isn't just academic—it reflects deep cultural connections. While Americans and Canadians stubbornly cling to "soccer" to distinguish it from their own football varieties, most of the world uses "football" or some local variation. In Italy, they play "calcio," a term dating back to the 16th century that literally means "kick." I've always preferred how Italians emphasize the physical aspect of the game right in the name. Meanwhile, our Filipino friends use both "soccer" and "football" interchangeably, though I've noticed "football" gaining prominence since their women's team—the Filipinas—made international headlines by qualifying for the 2023 World Cup through that very tournament that will now feature separate qualification for the 2027 edition.
Beyond the usual "football" versus "soccer" dichotomy, there are fascinating regional variations. In Ireland, you might hear "sacar" from Irish speakers, while Wales uses "pêl-droed." During my time in Southeast Asia, I discovered that Indonesians call it "sepak bola," which literally translates to "kick ball." The Japanese say "sakkā," adapted from the English "soccer," but with their own phonetic twist. What's particularly interesting is how these names reflect how the sport was introduced to different regions. Australia provides a perfect case study—they've transitioned from calling it "soccer" to "football" officially in 2005, though in casual conversation, both terms still coexist rather messily.
Some of my favorite alternative names come from languages that describe the game's action rather than borrowing foreign terms. The Hungarian "labdarúgás" breaks down to "ball-kicking," while Ukrainians say "futbol," showing Russian influence despite recent efforts to switch to "footbol." Having attended matches in Budapest, I can confirm that the passion for "labdarúgás" equals anywhere I've seen "football" played. Meanwhile, in South Africa, you'll hear "soccer," "football," and indigenous terms like "ibhola" in Zulu. This linguistic diversity mirrors the complicated colonial and sporting history of the nation.
The global terminology landscape continues to evolve, especially with women's teams like the Filipinas gaining prominence. Their qualification has sparked increased interest in the sport across the Philippines, where both "soccer" and "football" appear in media coverage. Personally, I believe this flexibility in terminology reflects the sport's growing inclusivity. After all, whether you call it fútbol, football, or soccer, the excitement when a team like the Filipinas makes history remains the same. The beautiful part is that as the women's game expands—with the upcoming 2027 World Cup already implementing separate qualification—we're likely to see even more linguistic diversity in how we refer to this global passion.
