American football and soccer share some similarities: large outdoor fields, the same number of players per team and the use of cleated shoes. But the sum of their differences is far greater than that of their similarities. Different rules, equipment, objectives and organization distinguish one sport from the other.
Rules
The most basic difference between American football and soccer is that you cannot use your hands to control the ball in soccer, and football requires most players to use their hands. The exception in soccer is that goalies can use their hands. Depending on the action, a football player can score one, two, three or six points on a given play. In soccer, you can only score by sending the ball into the goal, and this is worth one point. In American football you are also allowed timeouts and ways to stop the clock, such as by going out of bounds. The action of soccer pauses for injuries or referee consultations, but the clock does not stop. Instead, time may be added at the end of the game as a way to make up for stoppages.
Equipment
Soccer uses a spherical ball, similar to a basketball or volleyball. It is usually made from synthetic material, with stitching to hold the sections together. A football is made from leather and is oblong in shape. It has lacing on it to help control throws. Football players wear a wide assortment of protective gear including thigh pads, hip pads, cups, shoulder pads, helmets and mouth guards. Soccer players wear shinguards for protection, along with a jersey and shorts.
Cultural
American football's popularity is relatively isolated to the United States, whereas soccer has an official presence in the 208 nations that belong to FIFA, the international governing body of soccer. Each sport's ultimate championship, the Super Bowl and the World Cup, illustrates this distinction. The Super Bowl is viewed principally in the United States, and fans cheer for their favorite city and team. The World Cup is celebrated globally, with fans cheering for their own nation, similar to the Olympics.
Players
In American football, most players have specific positions and roles on the team. Kickers, quarterbacks, linebackers and wide receivers are all trained in one aspect of the game. Apart from the goalie in soccer, player positions are more loosely defined. Because of the flow of the game, a defensive soccer player may move to a scoring position and vice versa. Player substitutions are also different. In American football, players can be substituted any time the ball is dead. Examples of dead balls include when the ball goes out of bounds, during timeouts and after penalties. In soccer, players are substituted when their team has a goal kick or throw-in or between game halves and to replace an injured player.
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