Learn fútbol

New to futbol? Here are the core rules in plain language: how a match works, fouls, cards, free kicks, penalties and what the referee is actually doing.

Offside is the rule that confuses new fans the most. Here is the simple version, when it counts, when it does not, and why VAR takes so long.

Why does Messi play for both Argentina and a club? Here is the difference between national teams and clubs, and how the two fit together across a player's year.

What happens when a knockout match ends in a draw? Here is how extra time and penalty shootouts work, step by step, and why they are so nerve-racking.

A quick, plain-language glossary of the futbol terms you will hear during the World Cup, from clean sheet and brace to stoppage time and VAR.