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Football in Britain

The world's most popular sport, the FA Cup, the Premier League and Britain's contribution to it.

Football is the most popular sport in Britain at every level — schoolyard kickabouts, weekend amateur leagues, professional clubs and the four national teams that the UK fields (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). The Football Association, founded in 1863, set down the standardised rules of the modern game and is the oldest football association in the world.

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The FA Cup, first played in 1871–72, is the oldest national football competition. The men's Premier League — formed in 1992 from the old First Division — is now one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world. England men won the World Cup in 1966; the Lionesses won the Women's European Championship in 2022.

You may be asked which year the FA was founded (1863), what the FA Cup is, or which year England won the football World Cup (1966).

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