Glossary
Soccer glossary
Every soccer term you'll hear during a match, in one or two sentences. Tap a letter to jump to that section.
Soccer glossary
A
Advantage rule
When a foul happens but stopping play would help the offending team, the referee waves play on. They can still book the offender once the play settles.
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B
Brace
Two goals scored by the same player in a single match. One short of a hat-trick.
C
Clean sheet
A match in which a team did not concede a goal. Usually credited to the goalkeeper and defence.
Corner kick
Awarded to the attacking team when a defender last touches the ball before it crosses the goal line outside the goal. Taken from the corner arc.
Read full explanation →Counter-attack
A fast attack launched immediately after winning the ball, before the opposition has a chance to reorganise their defence.
D
Dribble
Running with the ball at your feet while keeping close control. Used to beat defenders or carry the ball into space.
E
Extra time
Two 15-minute halves played in a knockout match if the score is tied after 90 minutes. If still tied after extra time, the match goes to penalties.
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F
Fixture
A scheduled match. Used to refer to upcoming or completed games on a team's calendar.
Foul
An illegal act against an opponent — pushing, tripping, holding, dangerous tackles, or handball. The team fouled gets a free kick (or penalty if inside the box).
Read full explanation →Free kick
A kick awarded after a foul, taken from the spot of the offence with no defenders within 10 yards. Direct free kicks can score; indirect ones must touch another player first.
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G
Goal kick
Awarded to the defending team when an attacker last touches the ball before it crosses the defending team's goal line outside the goal. Taken from inside the 6-yard box.
Read full explanation →Group stage
The first round of the World Cup, where teams are split into groups and play each other once. The top finishers in each group advance to the knockout round.
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H
Handball
When a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, or accidentally touches it in a way that makes their body unnaturally bigger. The shoulder is not handball.
Read full explanation →Hat trick
Three goals scored by the same player in a single match. Traditionally rewards the player with the match ball.
K
Knockout stage
The single-elimination rounds after the World Cup group stage. Win and you advance, lose and you're out. Tied matches go to extra time, then penalties.
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N
Nutmeg
Pushing or kicking the ball through an opponent's legs and getting around them to receive it on the other side. A flashy way to beat a defender.
O
Offside
An attacker is offside if they are past the second-to-last defender when a teammate plays the ball forward, and they then become involved in the play.
Read full explanation →Own goal
A goal accidentally scored by a player into their own team's net. The goal is credited to the attacking team.
P
Penalty kick
A free shot from 12 yards out, awarded for a foul or handball inside the defending team's penalty area. One-on-one between the kicker and the goalkeeper.
Read full explanation →Penalty shootout
Used to decide a tied knockout match after extra time. Five kicks each, alternating; sudden death after if still tied.
Read full explanation →Possession
Having control of the ball. Possession-based teams build attacks slowly through passing; counter-attacking teams give it up to win it back in better positions.
Pressing
Coordinating multiple players to chase and trap an opponent on the ball, forcing them to make mistakes or kick it long. A 'high press' pushes this strategy near the opponent's goal.
R
Red card
A sending-off. The player must leave the field and their team plays the rest of the match with one fewer player. The sent-off player also misses the next match.
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S
Set piece
Any restart from a stationary ball — corner kicks, free kicks, throw-ins. Teams rehearse set pieces because they're predictable scoring opportunities.
Stoppage time
Extra minutes added at the end of each half to make up for time lost during play — injuries, substitutions, celebrations, and VAR reviews. Also called added time or injury time.
Read full explanation →Substitution
Replacing a player with one from the bench. Teams get up to 5 substitutions across 3 stoppage windows in regulation, plus 1 more if the match goes to extra time.
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T
Throw-in
Restart used when the ball goes out over the sideline. The team that didn't touch it last throws it back in with both hands, from behind their head, with both feet on the ground.
Tiebreaker
The set of criteria used to rank teams that finish on the same points in the World Cup group stage. Order: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head, fair play points.
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V
VAR
Video Assistant Referee — a team of officials who review replays and can recommend the on-field referee re-check decisions. Limited to four match-changing situations: goals, penalties, straight reds, and mistaken identity.
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Y
Yellow card
A booking — a formal warning from the referee for misconduct. Two yellow cards in the same match equal a red card and the player is sent off.
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