If I’m talking to an English speaker from outside of the US, is there any confusion if I say “soccer”?

For example, when I was in college a friend asked for a “torch”. I was confused for quite some time, because I didn’t know it was another word for “flashlight”. Does the same thing happen with the word “soccer”? Should I clarify by saying, “…or football”?

Thank you!

  • Taalen@lemmy.world
    108·
    10 months ago

    Not a native English speaker, but my hunch is, soccer will almost certainly be understood. Also it will identify you as American.

    • Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world
      62·
      10 months ago

      If you really want to throw them off, call it the proper name rather than the nick name. Association football. Most adult non-american english speakers are at least tangentially aware that the name soccer derived from that. But it certainly won’t make you sound American.

    • Zippy@lemmy.world
      31·
      10 months ago

      But if an American says football, that can create a bit of confusion.