“Football” Means “Soccer” in This Quiz

Question: Which football player, known as “Perola Negra,” led his squad to three World Cup championships?

Answer: Probably the most famous and possibly the highest-paid athlete in the world in his time, Brazilian footballer Pelé led the Brazilian national team to three World Cup championships and permanent possession of the Jules Rimet Trophy. Sometimes called “Pérola Negra” (“Black Pearl”), Pelé became a Brazilian national hero.

Question: In which country did the modern version of football originate?

Answer: The modern game of football is generally accepted to have originated in England. It is also called association football or soccer.

Question: In 1970, which football team won its third World Cup championship and thus claimed permanent ownership of the Jules Rimet Trophy?

Answer: From 1930 to 1970 the winners of the World Cup were awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy, named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to three-time winner Brazil, and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition.

Question: Who was the first man to both captain and manage a World Cup-winning football team?

Answer: German football player Franz Beckenbauer was the first man to both manage and serve as captain of a World Cup–winning team.

Question: What is the world governing body of amateur football competitions?

Answer: In 1904 Belgium, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland founded the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), now the world’s governing body for football. In addition to its duties of promulgating football rules, FIFA also sanctions tournaments such as the World Cup championship series.

Question: Known as “the Wizard of Dribble,” who was the first British footballer to be knighted?

Answer: In 1965 Stanley Matthews became the first British footballer to be knighted. In addition to his athletic skills, he was noted for his sportsmanship, which earned him the nickname the “First Gentleman of Soccer.”

Question: When did the English national team win the FIFA World Cup?

Answer: In 1966 England hosted and won the FIFA World Cup, making it the third host country to win the championship.