The Evolution of Football: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Football is the most played and most watched sport on Earth. With almost 300 million people actively involved in the game, that’s more than 4% of the world’s population! Football is so popular today that there are around 209 national teams even though there are only 195 countries in the world. Crazy, isn’t it?

Here's a question for you. Every country in the world today plays football, but where does the sport originally come from? Does it come from Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, England or Italy?

The correct answer is: China. I don’t think many of you would have guessed this, but football was first played in China around 476 B.C. A leather ball filled with feathers and hair was used to play Tsu' Chu which means ‘kick ball’.

Today, football players like Neymar and Hope Solo have become superstars and idols both on and off the football pitch.

However, getting to that level is not as easy as it seems. Professional football players need to be world-class athletes. They need to be strong, fit and fast and also have superhero endurance. On average, a football player runs more than eleven kilometres in a single match. Imagine chasing a ball 28 times around a 400-metre track! Phew!

Football will probably continue to be the world’s most popular sport. However, football enthusiasts have been creating some exciting up-and-coming sports. Let's take a closer look.

If you’ve ever played golf, it’s very hard to imagine playing the game without a golf club. Or is it? In footgolf, players compete by kicking a football across the golf course. Sound easy? Well, the ball and hole are bigger, but the game still requires a lot of skill.

Cycling is one of those sports that requires great balance. For some of us, just riding around the park is a challenge. So, can you imagine playing football on a bike? Cycle ball involves passing, dribbling, shooting and defending — all this while riding a bike! And remember, teamwork is just as important as individual skill.

Now I’ve got a challenge for you! Can you imagine how the sport of footbasket would be played? Put on your thinking caps and brainstorm some ideas!