Soccer is more than a sport in many nations; it's a pursuit of athletic endurance and national pride. Soccer players attempt to score a goal by dribbling the ball with their feet around defenders, and shoot the ball past the goalkeeper and into a net measuring eight yards wide by eight feet high. Millions of soccer players take part in leagues across the globe. Even in the U.S., where professional soccer lags behind more established professional and college sports leagues the numbers of young players continue to grow.

The passion and all-out support of soccer fans is unrivaled in any sport. At major league and international events, it's not uncommon to see fans paint their faces, sing songs or chant throughout the entire match. Soccer fans spend millions each year traveling to cheer on their favorite soccer teams.

During a match, each soccer team fields 11 players. The goalkeeper guards the goal, while a varying number of players focus on defense and offense. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to use his hands. Games at the international level consist of two 40-minute halves, with overtime if the score is tied after the two halves.

The two biggest international soccer events are the World Cup and the Euro Cup. The World Cup is held every four years, and nations compete in a variety of qualifying tournaments to earn a berth in the prestigious 32-team field. The Euro Cup, the European soccer championship tournament, features a 16-team final.