I’m not sure why, but foosball is always more fun when you play it with friends. Maybe it’s the competition, or maybe it’s the fact that you can actually talk to each other while you’re playing.
No matter what it is, I always have a good time when I’m playing foosball with my buddies. But where was foosball invented? In this article we let you know and cover a lot more fun foosball trivia.
Where Was Foosball Invented?
Foosball was invented in England by, Harold Searles Thornton. He was an Englishman who came up with the game in 1921 as a way of playing table football. The game quickly caught on, and soon foosball tables were popping up worldwide.
When Was Foosball Invented AKA The Great Foosball Timeline
1921 – Harold Searles Thornton who invented foosball gets the first patent for table football in the UK.
1937 – Alejandro Finisterre, a Spanish inventor patented Futbolin, in Madrid. This is the modern-day version of table football.
1950’s – Lawrence Patterson brought the game to the United States
1970’s – Foosball reached its peak popularity in the U.S.
2002 – Table soccer is promoted by the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF), which was founded in France.
How to Play Foosball
If you’re looking to get into the world of foosball, then you need to know the basics of how to play. Here are the steps you need to take:
1. Find a foosball table. This can be tricky, as not many places have them. Your best bet is to check out your local bar or arcade.
They are about 4′ long by 2′ wide and usually contain eight rows of foos me. This can be tricky, as not many places have them. Your best bet is to check out your local bar or arcade.
2. Place two teams of players on either side of the table. There should be one or two players per team, including the goalie.
3. Use the rods to control your players and try to score goals against the other team.
4. Have fun and enjoy the competitive nature of the game! The game is won when a predetermined amount of goals are scored, usually five, ten, or eleven.
Foosball Table Setup and Player Count
Table: Foosball Table Model, Wikipedia
| Row 1 | Goalkeeping | red man (sometimes 3) |
| Row 2 | Defense | 2 red men (sometimes 3) |
| Row 3 | Opponent’s attack | 3 blue or white men (sometimes 2) |
| Row 4 | Midfield | 5 red men (sometimes 4) |
| Row 5 | Opponent’s midfield | 5 blue or white men (sometimes 4) |
| Row 6 | Attack | 3 red men (sometimes 2) |
| Row 7 | Opponent’s defense | 2 blue or white men (sometimes 3 |
| Row 8 | Opponent’s goalkeeping | 1 blue or white man (sometimes 3) |
Foosball FAQ
Is Foosball an Olympic Sport?
No, foosball is not an Olympic sport but it will be awesome if and when it happens!
Who Invented Foosball?
Harold Searles Thornton invented foosball in 1921.
Why is Foosball Called Foosball?
It’s German for football and it’s fun to say.
Where was Foosball Invented?
In the United Kingdom
Final Thoughts on Where was Foosball Invented
Foosball is absolutely one of the most popular bar games in the world. But where did it come from? Turns out that foosball has a pretty interesting history that starts with an English business person and ends up all over the globe.
If you’re looking for a new game to play at your local pub, or just want to impress your friends with your knowledge of foosball trivia, I hope this article has been helpful. Who knows, maybe you can be the next person to teach someone how to play!
