Timelines of Football History

This marble relief is in the National Museum of Archeology in Athens, Greece. It depicts a Grecian athlete juggling a 'soccer ball' on his thigh and demonstrating the skill to a youth. The Greeks clearly played a form of soccer, but they left no written information about the sport.

1857 : Sheffield F.C was founded as the oldest amateur football club in the World.
1862 : Nott Country Football Club was formed as the oldest professional football club in the World.

1863 : The Law of Game was first drawn up by Ebenezer Cobb Morley and approved at a meeting of the newly-founded Football Association as the first football association in the World.

1867 : The first recorded association football match in South Americas, was held in Argentina. Buenos Aires football club was created as the first club ever in the Americas continent.
1867 : Youdan Cup was founded as the first amateur football tournament in the World.
1871 : FA Cup was first held as the oldest professional competition 

1872 : England versus Scotland is the first international match ever.
1884 : British Home Championship was first held as the oldest international tournament in the World. 
1884 : American football association was established as the first association in Americas. 
1885 : Professional football association was first introduced in the World in England.

1885 : The first international match outside Europe was first held between USA and Canada.

1886 : The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football, was established in England.
1886 : Hong Kong Football Club was founded in Hong Kong as the fist Asian club ever.

1888 : The English Football League was first formed as the first professional football league in the World

1891 :  The penalty kick was introduced.
1891 : The first official club match was first ever held in South Americas as Amateur Argentine League competition.
1893: The first ever football association in South Americas was founded as the Argentine football association.
1897: The first ever football association in Asia was founded as the football association of Singapore. 
1901 :  The first ever international match in South Americas was held with Argentina versus Uruguay.

1904 : FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was founded in Paris. Robert Guerin was its first president.
1907 : Ah-Ahly was founded in Egypt as the fist African club ever.

1908 : the 1908 Olympics in London was the first ever official World football tournament.
1908 : The first ever professional game in Asia was founded in Hong Kong First Division. 

1912 : Goalkeeper was first prohibited from handling the ball outside their own penalty area.
1913 : The first international match ever in Asia was held between China and Philippines.  

1916: The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) was formed. South American Championship was first held as the continental international tournament of South American nations.
1919: The first ever football association in Africa was founded as the Federation Congolaise De Football Association. 
1921: The first official club match was first ever held in Africa as Amateur Tunisian League competition.
1926 :  The first international match ever in Africa was held between Kenya and Uganda.

1927 : Central European International Football competition was first held in both club and international level as Mitropa Cup and Central European International Cup, respectively.
1928 : The first official club match was first ever held in Asia as Amateur Israeli State Cup competition.

1930 : The first ever FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay which become the first champion in history of the tournament.
1931 : Professional football was first introduced in South Americas when Argentine football league turned professional.

1937 : The Largest football crowd ever was recorded with 149,415 attendance at Hempden Park in the friendly match Scotland VS England.

1951 : White Ball was permitted as the first time
1952 : Penalty shoot-out was first implemented in Yugoslav Cup

1954 : The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA ) was formed.

1954 : The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) was formed.
1954 : Professional football was first introduced in Asia when Palestine league turned professional status.

1955 : European Cup was first held as the continental European club competition.
1956 : Professional football was first introduced in Africa when Tunisian League turned professional status.

1956 : Ballon’Dor (European Footballer of The Year) awards was established.

1956 : AFC Asian Cup was first held as the continental tournament for Asian nations.

1957 : The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was formed. African Cup of Nations was first held as the continental tournament for African nations.

1958 : Introduction of substitutes.

1960 : Copa Libertadores Cup was first held as the continental South American club competition.

1960 : Intercontinental Cup was first held.

1960 : European Nation Cup was first held as the international European tournament.

1961 : CONCACAF is found as a merger of the NAFC and CCCF.

1964 : CAF Champion League was first held.
1965 : Away goals rule was first introduced by UEFA.

1966 : The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) was formed.

1967 : Asian club tournament was first held.

1970 : Introduction of penalty cards.
1970 : Penalty shoot-out was officially adopt. 
1970 : Introduction of Goal Difference Rule.
1970 : FIFA World Cup was first participated by nations from all five continents.

1970 : Pele became the first and only player in history to win three World Cup champions.

1975 : South American Championship was transformed to Copa America.

1991 : FIFA World Player of the Year was established.

1992 : Introduction of the back-pass rule.

1992 : FIFA Confederation Cup was first held.

1992 : Football in Olympic Games restrict to allow 3 players over 23 years old to compete.

1993 : European Cup was transformed to UEFA Champion League.
1993 : Golden Goal Rule, the sudden death goal in extra time was applied.
1994 : FIFA first rules to increase point from 2 to 3 for the match winner in the World Cup.

1995 : The Bosman Rules was introduced.

2000 : FIFA Club World Cup was first held.
2010 : FIFA World Cup has been hosted by nation from all continents.

2010 : Ballon’Dor and FIFA World Player of the Year was merged as FIFA Ballon’Dor

2012 : Goal-line technology is permitted, if the individual competition wishes to implement it.
2016 : Copa America Centennario is held as the only international country competition in history that is participated between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF.  

2017 : Video television replayed is first used officially in the 2017 FIFA Confedeartion Cup.

2018 : FIFA World Cup is first hosted by Eastern European Nation in Russia
2018 : The Fourth Substitution is first implemented in the 2018 World Cup

2022 : FIFA World Cup is first hosted by Arab Nation in Qatar

2022 : The Fifth Substitution is first implemented in the 2018 World Cup