Football in England

Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the sport were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game. With over 40,000 football clubs, England has more clubs involved in the game than any other country.

England is home to, amongst others, the world's oldest football club (Sheffield F.C.), the oldest national governing body (The Football Association), the first national team, the oldest national knockout competition (the FA Cup) and the oldest national league (The Football League). Today England's top domestic league, the Premier League, is one of the most popular and richest sports leagues in the world, and is home to some of the world's most famous football clubs.

It has traditionally been a male-dominated sport, but women's football has become increasingly prominent in recent years.