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　　Many nations claim to have invented soccer, but it is impossible to say when andswherespeople first kicked a spherical1 object around for fun. In its modern form, however, the "beautiful game”is indisputably English in origin. The London Football Association published the first set of rules in 1863 and named the sport“association football”. The term“soccer”is believed to be derived2 from“association”.

　　While most professional soccer these days is played at the club level, international matches generate the most attention and excitement. This is especially true during the quadrennial World Cup championship. The brainchild3 of a French football official, the first World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930. The 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea will be the 17th event, but the first to be jointly hosted.

　　Though England made the rules, and a Frenchman invented the World Cup, many people hold soccer’s spiritual home to be in South America. Brazil is home to the world’s most successful national team and, arguably, the greatest player in history---Pele .

　　It was Pele who first used the term“beautiful game”to describe his profession, and his nation’s passion.4 Ironically, it was an Englishman, Charles Miller, who brought soccer to Brazil in the late 19th century. He probably could not have imagined what he was starting.