Football
Football is a team game for two sides of at most 11 players, one of whom is the goalkeeper, the only player allowed to handle the ball and only inside their own penalty area. A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar, and the team with more goals wins. A match is two halves of 45 minutes, with time added for stoppages.
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How long
Two halves of 45 minutes plus added time, with a half-time of up to 15 minutes
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1FIFA World CupThe most-watched sporting event in the world.Every 4 years · Holder: Spain
- 2FIFA Women's World CupThe women's world title.Every 4 years · Holder: Spain
- 3UEFA Champions LeagueThe top club competition in the world.Yearly · Holder: Paris Saint-Germain
- 4Olympic Games (football)An under-23 event for men (with three older players) and a full women's event; not the top men's title.Every 4 years · Holder: Men's: Spain · Women's: United States
India
India's men and women have never played at a World Cup.
- FIFA World Cup: Has never played at a World Cup; qualified by default for 1950 and withdrew before the tournament
- FIFA Women's World Cup: Has never played at a Women's World Cup: no match of India's is in FIFA's data for the nine editions
- UEFA Champions League: Not a UEFA competition: Indian clubs do not take part (see India below)
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaFootball at the Asian Games: 2 golds, 1 bronze (latest 1970)
- SpainFIFA World Cup: 2 titles (latest 2026); UEFA Champions League: 20 titles, 8 times runner-up (latest 2023)
- ItalyFIFA World Cup: 4 titles, 2 times runner-up, 1 bronze (latest 2006); UEFA Champions League: 12 titles, 17 times runner-up (latest 2024)
- EnglandFIFA World Cup: 1 title, 1 bronze (latest 2026); UEFA Champions League: 15 titles, 9 times runner-up (latest 2025)
- BrazilFIFA World Cup: 5 titles, 2 times runner-up, 2 bronzes (latest 2002); Football at the Olympic Games: 2 golds, 6 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2024)
- West GermanyFIFA World Cup: 3 titles, 3 times runner-up, 1 bronze (latest 1990); UEFA Champions League: 4 titles, 5 times runner-up (latest 1986)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | The International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2026/27, in force from 1 July 2026 |
| International federation | FIFA |
| In India | All India Football Federation (AIFF): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
On a pitch 90 to 120 metres long and 45 to 90 metres wide (100 to 110 by 64 to 75 for internationals), with goals 7.32 metres wide and 2.44 metres high. The big events: the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup every four years, and the UEFA Champions League for European clubs every year.