Home / July

A little reason to celebrate

National Soccer Day

Hobby · July 28

A day for soccer in the US, from backyard kickabouts and youth leagues to pickup games and watching a match with friends.

National Soccer Day falls on Wednesday, July 28, 2027. That is 274 days away.

Soccer is a game of two teams, one ball and a goal at each end, where nearly everyone has to get by without using their hands. The players try to move the ball down the field with their feet, heads and chests and put it in the other team's net. Only the goalkeeper may handle the ball, and only inside their own penalty area.

Part of the game's appeal is how little it asks for. A ball and a patch of grass will do, and a pair of backpacks makes a fine goal. That is why it shows up in so many places: school fields on Saturday mornings, city parks after work, driveways where the garage door takes more shots than any keeper ever will.

In the United States, soccer lives in a lot of homes through youth leagues, with folding chairs on the sideline and orange slices at halftime. Adult rec leagues and pickup games keep plenty of people playing long after school. Others follow the professional game, gathering around a screen to watch a match and argue about a referee's call.

A full match runs two halves of 45 minutes, plus a little added time for stoppages. The clock keeps running through most of the play, so a game moves at a steady pace without many breaks.

For anyone curious, the easiest way in is the oldest one: find a ball, find some open ground, and pass it back and forth with someone until the light fades.

Ways to celebrate

• Kick a ball around at a local park with friends or family.
• Join or start a casual pickup game.
• Watch a soccer match and learn one new rule.
• Practice juggling the ball and count your best streak.
• Cheer on a local youth or school team.

Dates

All national days on July 28

Also on July 28

• National Milk Chocolate Day
• National Waterpark Day
• Buffalo Soldiers Day

Categories: Hobby days