Soccer was first formalized in England , specifically in the 19th century when the Football Association was formed in 1863.

Earlier roots

Before modern soccer, ball games were played much earlier in places like ancient China, Greece, Rome, and Mesoamerica. Those games influenced the sport’s long history, but they were not soccer in its modern form.

Simple answer

  • Where was soccer first played? England, for modern soccer.
  • Did older versions exist elsewhere? Yes, in ancient China and Mesoamerica, among other places.

Bottom line: if you mean the modern game, the answer is England.