Here’s a Glossary of Soccer Terms You Will Hear During the World Cup

From "wonder strike" to "Golden Boot," we've got definitions of all the weird soccer jargon you'll hear this month.

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The 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off today in Brazil, and figures to draw in millions upon millions of new fans. The problem, though, is that soccer is loaded with all kinds of jargon that may not be familiar to most people.

Don’t worry, though; if someone starts talking about “wonder strikes” or “the Golden Boot” and you’re feeling a little lost, we’ve got you covered. Just keep this glossary of terms handy, and soon enough you’ll be talking about CONMEBOL and CONCACAF like a seasoned pro.

If you’re looking for a way to correctly pronounce the players’ names, Goal.com has come up with the definitive audio guide for everything from Tim Howard to Aurélien Chedjou.

We’ll keep our terms list updated throughout the tournament, so keep checking back and shoot us a comment if there’s anything we’re missing:

Soccer Terms Glossary

  • CONMEBOL: the South American Football Confederation, the group from which all South American teams must qualify for the World Cup.
  • Winger: A combination of outside midfielder and forward who generally stays out on the flanks and rarely ventures into the center of the field.
  • Target man: a center forward who plays closest to the last opposing defender and both sets up and finishes scoring opportunities.
  • Attacking third: the field is divided into three parts, and this is the section closest to the goal a team is trying to score on.
  • Danger man/men: players who have a penchant for scoring goals from any place on the field.
  • UEFA: the Union of European Football Associations, the group from which all European teams must qualify for the World Cup.
  • Ballon d'Or: the World Player of the Year award, awarded by FIFA.
  • First XI: the starting lineup.
  • CONCACAF: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, the group from which all North and Central American teams must qualify for the World Cup.
  • Cap: an appearance for the national team.
  • Hexagonal: The final round of qualifying in CONCACAF, which is a six-team “home and home” round robin.
  • Friendly: an exhibition game.
  • Relegation: being demoted to a lower division.
  • 4-3-3: a common formation consisting of four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards
  • Golden Boot: the award for the player with the most goals at the World Cup.
  • Golden Ball: the award for the “MVP” of the World Cup.
  • Knockout stages: everything after the Group Stage at the World Cup.
  • Attacking center mid: the midfielder who plays closest to the forwards and often both initiates and participates in the attack.
  • Defensive center midfielder: a midfielder who plays closest to the defenders, serving as both a de facto defender and helping transition his team into attack when they win possession.
  • Senior national team: the teams playing in the World Cup; the next level down is the U-21 team.
  • Centerback: the defender playing in the middle, who—along with the goalkeeper—is responsible for organizing the whole back line.
  • “In the team”: earning a place in the starting lineup.
  • Clean sheet: a shutout.
  • Service: passes to players in good attacking positions
  • Goal differential: the difference between goals scored and goals allowed. This is the second tiebreaker in World Cup group play, after head-to-head result.
  • Technical: excellent grasp of the fundamental mechanics of the game.
  • Pace: Speed, especially while in possession of the ball.

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