In which sport do players score goals by kicking a ball?

In which sport do players score goals by kicking a ball? Soccer is the answer. Also called association football, soccer is played by two teams that try to move a spherical ball into the opposing team’s goal. Players primarily use their feet, although they may use other parts of the body under the rules.

A standard outdoor team has 11 players on the field, including a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is the only player generally allowed to handle the ball with the hands during open play, and only within the team’s penalty area. A goal counts when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the posts and beneath the crossbar.

The sport has different names around the world. “Soccer” is especially common in the United States, Canada and Australia, while “football” is the usual term in many other countries. These names refer to the same sport, not to American football or rugby.