The football offside rule, explained
Codified under Law 11, the rule prevents goal-hanging by penalising attackers who become actively involved from an advanced position.
Football
Football (soccer) from around the world: matches, transfers, tournaments and the stories behind them.
How VAR works in football
Operating under a remit of minimal interference, video assistant referees can intervene in only four specific match situations.
How the Women's World Cup Grew from 12 Teams to a Global Giant
From unofficial tournaments in the 1970s to a planned 48-nation format, the competition has overcome institutional bans to become an international fixture.
How the FA Cup Works, How It Began and Why Underdogs Rule
First played in the 1871–72 season, the world's oldest national football competition still pits part-time amateurs against the game's wealthiest giants.
How the Ballon d'Or works
From a French journalists' vote in 1956 to a season-based global contest, the rules governing football's most coveted individual trophy have shifted dramatically.
How the Men's World Cup Grew from 13 Teams to 48
Across nearly a century, international football's premier showpiece expanded from a fraught gathering in Montevideo into a global fixture.
Champions League 2026-27: how the league phase works
Thirty-six clubs, one table and eight matches each: how the format works and where clubs stand after three matchdays, according to NBC Sports' table of 21 October.