Women’s Soccer Overview

What most of the world calls “football,” or “association football,” the United States calls soccer.  This sport has its origins in ancient China (around the Han Dynasty circa 200 B.C.E.).

Even though the game has existed for a long time, the first time rules of the game were written down were in 1848 at Cambridge University in England, however, many people did not follow these rules.  Other “conventions” were held and the rules we use today became popular.

In the United States, soccer has been played since the 1800’s, but the sport was not very popular.  Popularity began to grow with the first American professional League, the North American Soccer League (NASL). Unfortunately, the NASL folded in 1985.

When the United States hosted the 1994 Men’s World Cup, a new group of people began to discover the sport.  However, it was not until the 1999 Women’s World Cup, also hosted by the U.S., that soccer became popular.  In the final game of that tournament, the host U.S.A took on China.  The game went into overtime and then had to be decided by penalty kicks, giving the Cup to the U.S.A. 

The Minnesota State High School League held their first State Tournament during the 1980-1981 school year. Soccer in the Minneapolis City Conference began with the 1982-83 school year although some schools did have a club team.