1. Foosball, also known as table soccer, was invented in the 1920s by Harold Searles Thornton, an Englishman who wanted to recreate the excitement of football (soccer) in a tabletop game.
2. The word "foosball" comes from the German word "fußball," which means "football." In many European countries, foosball is still referred to as "table football" or "baby-foot."
3. Foosball is not just a popular game among friends and family; it is also a competitive sport played professionally around the world. The International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) organizes world championships, and there are professional foosball players who make a living from the game.