A Brief History of Football: From Ancient Origins to Modern Game

I remember watching that Alas Pilipinas Women's match against Vietnam last year in Manila, and honestly, it was tough to witness. The final score of 4-0 in Vietnam's favor didn't really capture how dominant they were throughout the game. As someone who's studied football history for over fifteen years, I've come to appreciate how these modern international matches represent the culmination of centuries of evolution in the game. Football's journey from ancient pastimes to the structured sport we know today is far more fascinating than most people realize, and understanding this history helps explain why certain nations excel while others struggle to find their footing.

The earliest forms of football date back over 2,000 years to ancient China, where a game called cuju involved kicking a leather ball through a net. I've always found it remarkable how similar the basic concept was even then - using feet to control a ball toward a target. The Chinese military used cuju as training exercise as early as the Han Dynasty around 206 BCE to 220 CE. Meanwhile, ancient Greeks and Romans had their own ball games that involved kicking, though they were often more violent than what we'd recognize as football today. What fascinates me most about these ancient versions is that they emerged independently across different civilizations, suggesting something fundamental in human nature draws us to kicking balls in organized competition.

During medieval Europe, particularly in England, various mob football games became popular where entire villages would compete against each other, often with hundreds of players and very few rules. These games were chaotic, sometimes lasting for days, and frequently resulted in injuries and property damage. I've read accounts of games where the "pitch" stretched across entire towns, with goals sometimes miles apart. King Edward III actually banned football in 1365 because it was distracting men from practicing archery, which was considered more important for national defense. This period represents what I like to call football's "dark ages" - the game existed but without any standardization or respectability.

The transformation began in the 19th century English public schools, where the game was refined and codified. This is where my personal passion for football history really ignites. In 1863, the Football Association in England established the first unified rules, famously splitting from rugby by prohibiting carrying the ball with hands. That moment created association football as we know it. The spread of the British Empire then carried the game worldwide - to South America, Europe, and eventually to Asia, including the Philippines and Vietnam. I've always been struck by how quickly the game was adopted globally. By 1900, football was already an Olympic sport, and FIFA formed in 1904 with seven founding members: Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The 20th century saw football become truly global, with the first World Cup in 1930 attracting 13 nations. That tournament in Uruguay captured my imagination when I first studied it - the host nation winning, teams traveling for weeks by ship to participate, and the modest beginnings of what would become the world's most watched sporting event. The post-war period brought television coverage, which transformed football from a local pastime into global entertainment. This commercialization created the modern professional game with its massive salaries and transfer fees that we see today. Personally, I have mixed feelings about this transformation - while it's created incredible athletic spectacle, something of the game's grassroots spirit has undoubtedly been lost.

When I consider the development of women's football, the trajectory has been particularly dramatic. Banned in England in 1921 and only properly organized in the 1970s, women's football has fought for recognition every step of the way. This context makes matches like that Alas Pilipinas Women versus Vietnam game so significant - they represent not just national competition but the ongoing struggle for women's sports to gain equal footing. The fact that these matches even occur at an international level shows how far we've come, even when the results might be disappointing for one side.

Modern football has evolved into a sophisticated blend of athleticism, strategy, and global business. The sport I fell in love with as a child watching local matches has become a multi-billion dollar industry with global superstars. Today's players are faster, stronger, and more technically skilled than ever before, trained from youth in sophisticated academies and playing in stadiums that are technological marvels. The tactical evolution has been equally remarkable - from the rigid formations of early football to the fluid positional play of contemporary teams. As much as I romanticize football's history, I have to admit the modern game offers a level of sophistication that earlier eras couldn't match.

Looking at that Alas Pilipinas match through this historical lens, what might have seemed like a simple defeat actually represents something much larger. Vietnam's football development program has benefited from systematic investment over decades, while the Philippines continues building its football infrastructure. The 4-0 scoreline reflects not just ninety minutes of play but generations of football development in both nations. Having visited training facilities in Southeast Asia, I've seen firsthand how the historical foundations laid decades ago continue to influence results today. The beautiful game's history isn't just about the past - it actively shapes every match we watch, every victory and defeat, and the ongoing development of football worldwide.