Football is more commonly known as soccer in the United States.  Football is one of the most popular sports in the Olympics, as well as the world, in terms of audience and participants.  With roots going back to the ancient Chinese, Greeks, and Romans, football was the first team sport admitted to the Games by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members. European teams largely dominated the sport until the 1996 Atlanta Games and have not won a gold medal in the men's tournament since. The women's event was added in 1996, leading to the three gold medals in the sport for the United States in four Olympic Games including the first gold medal in the sport for the United States. The Modern Olympiad has included football in the program for most years, the exceptions 1896 and 1936.

Since the late 1800s, when the IOC created the Modern Olympics, football has been extremely popular in Chicago thanks to the city's large number of European immigrants who brought the game – and their love for it – with them.

Official regulated soccer matches began taking place in Chicago back in 1893. Soon after, soccer was featured at the famous World's Columbian Exposition in a tournament that ended with a match between the Chicago and Toronto teams. A few years later, in 1904, the Association Football League was founded, including at least six Chicago teams. Other teams joined the League as it matured, but Chicago enjoyed its place as one of the major U.S. cities for soccer fans and players for several decades.

The National Soccer League of Chicago was founded in 1920, and several national team members claimed Chicago as their home. The city houses the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer; the Chicago Fire were founded in 1997, one year after the beginning of the Major Soccer League.  The Chicago Fire had success with an MLS Cup win in 1998 and four U.S. Open Cup wins since 1997.  The Chicago Sting (1975-1988) also had success in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.  In addition, Chicago is the current home of the United States Soccer Federation.

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