Soccer Abbreviations and Acronyms

With such a huge and passionate fan base, it is no surprise that soccer has developed its own set of abbreviations and acronyms. From tactical formations to statistical measures, these terms are used to describe various aspects of the game. If you are new to soccer or just looking to expand your knowledge of the sport, this page is a great resource for understanding the meaning behind common soccer abbreviations and acronyms.

Understanding a league table

D - Drawn: The total number of games a team has drawn throughout the season.
GA - Goals Against: Goals Against displays the total number of goals conceded throughout the season. This can sometimes be shortened to 'A'
GD - Goal Difference: Goal Difference is a term to describe the difference between the number of goals that a team has scored and the number they have conceded. If you subtract the goals scored by the goals conceded, the result will be the goal difference. A positive number indicates better overall performance, and a negative number indicates a poorer overall performance. The number can sometimes be used as a tiebreaker if multiple teams finish the season with an equal number of points.
GF - Goals For: Goals For displays the total number of goals scored throughout the season. This can sometimes be shortened to 'F'
L - Lost: The total number of games a team has lost throughout the season.
P - Played: The total number of games a team has played throughout the season.
Pts - Points: The total number of points a team has accumulated throughout the season.
W - Won: The total number of games a team has won throughout the season.

Playing positions

CAM - Central Attacking Midfielder: The Central Attacking midfielder is a central midfield position that is responsible for creating scoring chances and supporting the forwards.
CB - Center Back: A Center Back is a defensive position in soccer. Center backs are typically responsible for organizing the defense and preventing the opposing team from scoring goals.
CDM - Central Defensive Midfielder: The Central Defensive midfielder is a central midfield position that is responsible for protecting the defense and winning possession of the ball.
CF - Center Forward: The Center Forward is a forward position that plays in the center of the field, who can score goals and provide opportunities to teammates.
CM - Central Midfielder: The Central midfielder is a midfield position that plays in the center of the field.
FB - Full Back: The Fullback is a defensive position that plays on the flanks (sides) of the field.
FW - Forward: A Forward is a generic term for an attacking player that plays in an advanced area of the field.
GK - Goalkeeper: The Goalkeeper is the player who is responsible for defending the goal.
LB - Leftback: A Left Back is a defensive position that plays on the left side of the field.
LM - Left Midfielder: A Left midfielder is a midfield position that plays on the left side of the field.
LW - Left Winger: A Left Winger is an attacking position that plays on the right side of the field.
LWB - Left Wing Back: A Left Wing Back is a position that plays on the left side of the field. It is not as defensive as a Full Back and will join in both defensive and attacking plays.
RB - Rightback: A Right Back is a defensive position that plays on the right side of the field.
RM - Right Midfielder: A Right midfielder is a midfield position that plays on the right side of the field.
RW - Right Winger: A Right Winger is an attacking position that plays on the right side of the field.
RWB - Right Wing Back: A Right Wing Back is a position that plays on the right side of the field. It is not as defensive as a Full Back and will join in both defensive and attacking plays.
ST - Striker: A Striker is a forward position that plays in the center of the field, and is focused on scoring goals.
SW - Sweeper: A Sweeper is a defensive position, similar to a Center Back, but is responsible for sweeping up loose balls and providing support to the defense.
WB - Wing Back: A Wing Back is a position that plays on the flanks (sides) of the field. It is not as defensive as a Full Back and will join in both defensive and attacking plays.

Game events

AET - After Extra Time: Indicates that the game ended in a draw after regular time, so extra-time was needed to decide the winner of the game.
AGG - Aggregate: The Aggregate score is the total combined score for a matchup between two teams that takes place over two separate games.
FK - Free Kick: A Free kick is a kick that is awarded to a team after a foul is committed by the opposing team.
FT - Full Time: Full Time indicates that the game has ended.
INJ - Injury: An Injury is a physical ailment that prevents a player from participating in a game.
OG - Own Goal: An Own goal is a goal scored by a player into their own team's net.
PK - Penalty Kick: A Penalty kick is a free kick taken from the penalty spot that is awarded to the opposing team if a foul is committed within the penalty area.
RC - Red Card: A Red card is a card shown by the referee to a player who has committed a serious infraction. Players who receive a red card are ejected from the game and are often suspended for additional games as well.
SUB - Substitution: A Substitution is the act of replacing a player on the field with another player.
VAR - Video Assistant Referee: A Video Assistant Referee will review the decisions of the on-field referee to try to identify any clear and obvious mistakes.
YC - Yellow Card: A Yellow card is a card shown by the referee to a player who has committed a minor infraction. Players who receive two yellow cards in a single game are shown a red card and are ejected from the game.

Club names

AFC - Association Football Club: This abbreviation Association Football Club is often used as part of a soccer club's name, particularly in England.
FC - Football Club: The term Football Club is often used as part of a soccer club's name, particularly in Europe. The abbreviation "FC" is often used to distinguish soccer clubs from other sports clubs, as many clubs around the world use the same name for their teams in different sports.
Real - Spanish for 'Royal': Some soccer clubs include the word "Real" in their names to reflect their royal heritage or status as a long-established and traditional club. In some cases, the word "Real" is used to distinguish these clubs from other sports clubs with similar names. For example, Real Madrid was founded in 1902 as Madrid Football Club, but changed its name to Real Madrid in 1920 to differentiate itself from another club called Madrid Football Club.
SC - Soccer Club: The term Soccer Club is often used as part of a soccer club's name, particularly in the US.
UTD - United: For example, Manchester United, a soccer club based in Greater Manchester, England

Associations and tournaments

AFC - Asian Football Confederation: The Asian Football Confederation is one of six confederations that make up FIFA.
AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations: The Africa Cup of Nations is a biennial international men's soccer tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football.
CAF - Confederation of African Football: The Confederation of African Football is the governing body for soccer in Africa.
CONCACAF - Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football: The Confederation of African Football is the governing body for soccer in Africa.
CONMEBOL -South American Football Confederation: The South American Football Confederation is the governing body for soccer in South America.
EDP - Elite Development Program: The Elite Development Program is one of the largest organizers of youth soccer leagues and tournaments in the U.S.
EPL - English Premier League: The English Premier League is the top professional soccer league in England.
EUROs - UEFA European Championship: The UEFA European Championship is an international soccer tournament organized by UEFA for the national teams of Europe.
FA - Football Association: The Football Association is the governing body for soccer in England.
FIFA - Fédération Internationale de Football Association: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body for soccer.
LFP - Ligue de Football Professionnel: The Ligue de Football Professionnel is the governing body for professional soccer in France.
LMX - Liga MX: The Liga MX is the top professional football division in Mexico.
MLS - Major League Soccer: Major League Soccer is the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.
ODP - Olympic Development Program: The Olympic Development Program is an association that aims to identify players of the highest caliber which will lead to increased success for the U.S. National Teams in the international arena.
OFC - Oceania Football Confederation: The Oceania Football Confederation is one of six confederations that make up FIFA.
PFA - Professional Footballers' Association: The Professional Footballers' Association is an organization that represents professional soccer players in England.
UCL - UEFA Champions League: The UEFA Champions League is a prestigious annual soccer competition organized by UEFA for the top teams in Europe.
UEFA - Union des Associations Européennes de Football: The Union des Associations Européennes de Football is the governing body for soccer in Europe.
WC - World Cup: The World Cup is an international soccer tournament organized by FIFA that takes place every four years.

Players

BBC - Bale, Benzema, Cristiano: Bale, Benzema, and Cristiano (Ronaldo) were a dangerous attacking trio that played together at Real Madrid.
CR7 - Cristiano Ronaldo 7: CR7 represents the name of soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, and his famous number 7 jersey number.
KDB - Kevin de Bruyne: The initials of the Belgian international soccer player, Kevin de Bruyne.
MSN - Messi, Suarex, Neymar: Messi, Suarez, and Neymar were a dangerous attacking trio that played together at Barcelona.

Equipment

AG - Artificial Grass: Artificial Grass indicates the condition of the playing surface. Some soccer cleats are specially designed for artificial surfaces.
FG - Firm Ground: Firm Ground indicates the condition of the playing surface. Some soccer cleats are specially designed for firmer surfaces.
SG - Soft Ground: Soft Ground indicates the condition of the playing surface. Some soccer cleats are specially designed for softer surfaces.

Miscellaneous

GOAT - Greatest Of All Time: The Greatest soccer player Of All Time i.e Lionel Messi
LFG - Let's F***ing Go!: A rallying call for the team.
WAGs - Wives and Girlfriends: WAGs is a term to group together the wives and girlfriends of professional soccer players. The term was first popularised around the time of the 2006 World Cup, as a number of English players were partnered with female celebrities, such as Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole.
YNWA - You'll Never Walk Alone: You'll Never Walk Alone is the title of a song by Gerry and the Pacemakers, and is used as a club anthem by Liverpool and Celtic Football Clubs.