a form of football played between two teams of 11 players, in which the ball may be advanced by kicking or by bouncing it off any part of the body but the arms and hands, except in the case of the goalkeepers, who may use their hands to catch, carry, throw, or stop the ball.
Also British, association football .
Origin of soccer
First recorded in 1890–95; (As)soc(iation football) + -er7
Are you fellows going to win that soccer game against Berkley?
The Mystery Hunters at the Haunted Lodge|Capwell Wyckoff
Among the team games suitable for girls are: field hockey, soccer, baseball played with a soft ball and basket-ball.
How Girls Can Help Their Country|Juliette Low
We had a "soccer" team, a "rugger" team, and a cricket eleven.
The 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman's)|Fred W. Ward
He saw the boys playing Rugger, Soccer, &c., and immediately ordered his car to stop.
John Brown|Captain R. W. Campbell
Charles was only a Soccer Blue (and a goal-keeper at that), and Eric won.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 159, December 22, 1920|Various
British Dictionary definitions for soccer
soccer
/ (ˈsɒkə) /
noun
a game in which two teams of eleven players try to kick or head a ball into their opponent's goal, only the goalkeeper on either side being allowed to touch the ball with his hands and arms except in the case of throw-ins