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Introduction
Football is widely accepted as the world’s most popular sport, a title that has endured for decades (e.g. Sindreu, 2021; Vecsey, 1970). Not surprisingly, this has resulted in the sport's inclusion and development on university campuses around the world. In the United States, where football has historically lagged in popularity compared to other sports (e.g. American football, men's basketball), university champions have still been recognized at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level since 1959. In England, the university champion is a more recent phenomenon, having first been awarded by the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) League in 2005. Notwithstanding the recent creation of a UK university championship, participation is already high with over 450 teams competing in 100 leagues. This makes it the largest sport in UK higher education.
The structure and development of football on university campuses can vary significantly around the world. For example, in the USA higher education system, a two-tiered system has evolved over time. A small number of students compete as varsity athletes. These athletes are recruited to attend the university specifically to participate in the sport. Team rosters typically have around 28–32 athletes, and it is increasingly common to recruit athletes from around the world to fill roster spots. The athletes are typically supported by partial athletic scholarships. Full scholarships are rare due to the limited number available; the NCAA caps the maximum scholarships per university at 9.9 at the Division I level and 9 at the Division II level (“How do you get a scholarship”). More than 200 teams currently compete for national championships at both the Division I and Division II levels. Teams play a 15–20 match schedule, with additional league tournament and playoff matches at the end of the season based on team performance. The matches are promoted to fans within and outside of the universities and supported by full-time staff members that help promote the sport. The top 30 men’s teams in the USA typically attract between 1,000–3,000 fans per match (“Men’s soccer attendance records,” 2021) and the top 30 women’s teams typically attract 835–2,500 fans (“Women’s soccer attendance records,” 2021).
The other tier of football on USA campuses includes Intramural and club football. Intramural programs are a version of...