The English Football League (EFL), founded in 1888, was the top-level soccer league in England from its formation until 1992, when the top 22 clubs split away to form the Premier League.

In 1996, Scotland traveled to Tallinn to play Estonia in a World Cup Qualifier for France 98, but the home team failed to show up!

Arguably the dirtiest player ever to step onto a pitch, Gerardo Bedoya accumulated a whopping 46 red cards during his career. But he didn't stop there. After he retired as a player, Bedoya became manager for Colombian side Independiente Sante Fe and was sent off into the stands during his very first game!

Pelé was signed by Santos when he was just 15 years old. He scored four goals on his league debut in a match against FC Corinthians on September 7, 1956.

The film is about Allied prisoners of war interned in a German prison camp during the Second World War who play an exhibition soccer match against a German team. Sylvester Stallone plays American POW Robert Hatch who joins the team to facilitate his upcoming escape attempt.

The modern 32-panel ball design (which includes 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons) was developed in 1962 by Eigil Nielsen.

There is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in a national league, and this is particularly the case in La Liga, where the game between Real Madrid and Barcelona is known as "The Classic" (El Clásico). From the start of national competitions, the clubs were seen as representatives of two rival regions in Spain, Catalonia and Castile, as well as of the two cities. The rivalry reflects what many regard as the political and cultural tensions felt between Catalans and the Castilians, seen by one author as a re-enactment of the Spanish Civil War. Over the years, the record for Real Madrid and Barcelona is 97 victories for Madrid, 96 victories for Barcelona, and 51 draws.

Although the history of soccer in England dates back to at least the eighth century AD, the modern game traces its origins to 1863 when the Laws of the Game were codified by The Football Association.

Rogério Ceni scored 131 goals playing for São Paulo Futebol Clube in Brazil, from 1997 to 2015.

Throughout his career, Pearce was given the nickname of "Psycho" for his unforgiving style of play. This was initially a tag afforded to him only by Forest fans, though later it was adopted by England supporters as well.