- Far post The opposite, or furthest, goal post from the player's location. For example, if a player has the ball on the left side of the goal, then the far post would be the right post from the player's point of view.
- FAZ Football Association of Zambia is the governing body of Zambian football. FAZ was founded in 1929 and affiliated with FIFA in 1964. It is also a full member of CAF and COSAFA.
- Feeder ClubA club that develops players and sends them to a larger club.
- FeintA deceptive move to mislead an opponent.
- FIFAThe international governing body of soccer. FIFA organizes the World Cup and other international competitions and decides on national team world rankings.
- Fifth Official The fifth official is an additional official in some competitions, primarily for high-stakes matches like finals of major tournaments. The fifth official typically has duties similar to those of the fourth official but can also be designated specific roles such as monitoring the teams'(...)
- Final ThirdThe last third of the pitch nearest to the opponent's goal.
- Finishing Touch Accurately placing the ball in the back on the net, usually sacrificing power for precision and often done but not restricted to the inside of the foot.
- First-time BallPlaying the ball without taking a touch to control it first.
- First TouchThe initial contact a player makes with the ball when receiving it.
- FixtureA scheduled match in a competition.
- FlairNatural talent or skill, often showy.
- FlankThe side areas of the field.
- Flat PassA pass that's level with the ground.
- FlickA quick redirection of the ball with a specific part of the body.
- Flick-onA light header or touch to redirect the ball to a teammate.
- FMF The Mexican FA. Created in 1922, and a member of FIFA since 1929, the FMF is the governing body of soccer/football in Mexico.
- ForayAn advance into the opponent's territory.
- Formation The tactical positioning of a team, denoted by the number of players in each line of players. For example, 4-4-2 is a formation that has four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards (and 1 GK, but the GK is not specified as it is in every formation).
- Foul A breach of the rules typically results in a free-kick or penalty kick for the opposing team.
- Fourth Official The fourth official assists the other officials but is not on the field of play. They are responsible for various duties such as supervising substitutions, displaying the time added on at the end of each half on an electronic board, and generally helping the referee manage the game. The(...)
- Free Kick A direct or indirect kick is awarded to a team after a foul by the opposing team. The type of free-kick depends on the nature and location of the foul.
- Friendly MatchA non-competitive game.
- Fringe PlayerA player who is not a regular starter but is often on the edge of the first team.
- Front PostThe goalpost nearest to the ball during a cross.
- FullbackThe defenders playing on the wings.
- Full TimeThe end of the match.
- Gaffer Slang (especially in the UK) for a soccer team's manager or head coach. It's a colloquial term that refers to the person in charge of the team's tactics, training, and overall management.
- Game PlanA team's strategic plan for the match.
- Ghost Goal A situation where it appears that a goal has been scored, but the ball did not fully cross the goal line, and the goal is awarded.
- GoalThe rectangular structure at each end of the field into which teams try to score by getting the ball past the goalkeeper.
- Goalkeeper Tasked with being the last line of defense in stopping the ball from going into the net. Each team has 1 goalie, and usually, keep 1 goalie as a sub. The goalkeeper usually stays back in their own penalty box, in order to protect the goal. The goalkeepers are the only players that can use(...)
- Goal-Line Technology This is an electronic aid to determine whether the entire ball had crossed the goal line in the event of a goal being scored.
- Golden Glove Award An award given to goalkeepers who achieve the most clean sheets or are the best performing goalkeeper in a season or tournament.
- GraftHard work, especially referring to players who are industrious on the pitch.
- GrassrootsThe most basic level or starting point of soccer, often referring to youth or local soccer.
- Ground PassA pass that remains on the ground.
- Group StageThe phase in a tournament where teams compete in groups, with the top teams advancing.
- Half TimeThe break between two halves of a match.
- Half-volleyStriking the ball just as it bounces.
- HandballAn infraction where a player other than the goalkeeper touches the ball with their hand or arm.
- Hat-Trick When a player scores three goals in a single game.
- HattrickWhen a player scores three goals in a single game.
- Header A play where a player uses their head to strike the ball, often used for clearing the ball or scoring goals.
- High Line A defensive tactic where defenders play their defensive line further up the pitch, closer to the halfway line.
- High PressA tactic where players apply pressure high up the pitch to win the ball back.
- HoldTo keep possession of the ball.
- Hold the LineA command often yelled by defenders to maintain their line and avoid playing attackers onside.
- Hold-up PlayWhen a forward keeps the ball while waiting for teammates to join the attack.
- Hospital-Ball Jargon for a loose ball that can result in a 50-50 challenge that puts both players at risk of getting injured or picking up a knock as they are both challenging for the same ball with no advantage to either side.