Football is a Muggle sport that is played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is played on a rectangular field of turf with a goal in the middle of each of the short ends. The object of the game is to get the ball in the goal using any part of your anatomy except your hands. The West Ham United Football Club team is the favourite of Dean Thomas. Football could be said to be the Muggle equivalent of Quidditch, in terms of popularity.

A punctured football was amongst the discarded Portkeys that Harry Potter observed when he first arrived at the campgrounds for the 1994 Quidditch World Cup.^[1]

Behind the scenesEdit

• In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter did not believe that he could be a wizard at first when Rubeus Hagrid told him he was one, because Dudley Dursley "had always beena able to kick him around like a football." Later, Dean Thomas yells for a red card when Harry Potter was almost knocked off his broom in a Quidditch match, which is a serious offence in football.
• Because "football" means something different in the United States, the sport is called "soccer" in the American editions.
• City a football club, is mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game).
• Though Ron compares the sport of Quidditch to football in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, author J. K. Rowling has stated that she did not base the sport of Quidditch on any real life sport, further stating that to call the sport "soccer-like" is "nonsensical to anybody familiar with the rules of both games." She stated that Ron was only referring to the sport's immense popularity when making the connection.^[2]
• The Quaffle is described as being "football-sized."^[3]
• Football cards are collectible cards that depict football players.
• When Ron Weasley and Vernon Dursley were shouting to each other on the telephone, it was said it was as though they were speaking to each other from opposite ends of a football field.^[4]

AppearancesEdit

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game) (Mentioned only)

Notes and referencesEdit