Reading: The History of Football
The history of football is one of the most universally engaging A2 reading topics. The text in this worksheet covers football’s evolution from medieval village games through codification in 19th-century England, the founding of professional leagues, the rise of international competition (FIFA, World Cup), and the modern global game. Learners read for chronological sequence, key dates and figures, and cause-and-effect (why the game spread).
This worksheet builds A2 reading comprehension through an authentic-style historical text, with focus on dates, places, and chronological vocabulary.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- An A2 historical text (~300 words) on football’s history
- Pre-reading vocabulary box with sport and history terms
- Comprehension items: chronological sequencing, date-finding, multiple choice
- Vocabulary-in-context: sport and history-related collocations
- Writing follow-up: write about a sport you love or its history
- Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes
Common challenges: Date recognition at A2 is the central listening-and-reading skill — in 1863, by the 1900s, between the wars. Cause-and-effect connectors mark the historical reasoning (because the railways made travel easier, the game spread). Specific historical vocabulary: codify, govern, organise, league, federation, championship.
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR A2, in pre-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge A2 Key (KET) Reading and supports B1 Preliminary (PET) preparation. Part of the Culture & Lifestyle Readings collection — the natural next step is Food Cultures Around the World, which extends cultural reading into food-and-tradition territory.
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