England's Football Association first legalized professional soccer players in 1885.
The mascot for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico was a sombrero-wearing jalapeno pepper named Pique.
Gerd Muller, who played for Bayern Munich from 1965-79, is the all-time leading scorer in the German Bundesliga with 365 goals in 427 games.
Unlike the Olympics, FIFA recognizes the four Home Nations of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland- as separate entities.
FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium has the largest official seating capacity in Europe: 98,787.