Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle

Chatgpt says: The term "soccer" originates from England and is derived from the word "association" in "Association Football," which is the official name for the game of soccer/football. Here's a brief overview of how the term came about:

1. Formation of Football Rules: In the 19th century, various forms of football were played in England. There was a need to standardize the rules, leading to the creation of the Football Association (FA) in 1863, which established the rules for what became known as "Association Football."

2. Slang Development: The British have a tradition of adding "-er" to the ends of words. From "Association," the slang term "assoc" was formed, which further evolved into "socca" and then "soccer."

3. Distinction in Naming: The term "soccer" was used to distinguish Association Football from other forms of football played in England, like Rugby Football (which became "rugger" in slang).

4. Adoption in Other Countries: The name "soccer" was then exported to other countries, like the United States, Canada, and Australia, where other forms of football were prevalent. In these places, "soccer" became the common term to avoid confusion with their own popular codes of football, such as American or Canadian football.

Over time, while the term "football" remains the most common name for the sport in most parts of the world, "soccer" is still used predominantly in countries where other codes of football are more popular.