> In 1872, the first international football (soccer) match occurred betweenScotland and which country?And the answer is: England. Photo courtesy: Scottish Football Museum.In November 1872, Scotland hostedEngland in what is considered the first official international football / soccermatch, with 4,000 spectators looking on. By the beginning of the 20th century,the sport had become more popular around the world, and the first FIFA World Cupwas eventually held in 1930.By the time the rest of Europe had caught on to the simple but riveting game offootball (known as soccer to Americans), international teams had already beenaround for over 30 years. British and Scottish teams had already played inseveral unofficial games before their 1872 debut, yet it was there at HamiltonCrescent Park in Glasgow, Scotland, that international soccer competition wasborn. The event drew some 4,000 spectators, many of which clad in the colors oftheir respective team. Though the match ultimately ended goalless, it sparkedone of the fiercest rivalries in the sport and gave way to a competitionstructure that is still widely practiced today. The Glasgow Herald reported thematch, commenting:> "Both sides were working hard, and showing excellent play. The Englishmen hadall the advantage of weight, their average being two stone heavier than theScotchmen and they had the advantage of pace. The strong point of the home clubwas that they played excellently well together."Today, the two nations' teams continue to play "excellently well" together, astheir rivalry marks the longest running international sports fixture in theworld. The respective sides have gone on to play 114 matches against the other,with England winning 48, Scotland 41, 25 ranking as draws.