Some say that the 70s was the golden age of soccer. Although stadiums were uncomfortable and the toilets were nothing short of prehistoric, this era paved the way for soccer as we know it. Pre-match reading was mandatory and soccer programmes were at the peak of their popularity. Some of the biggest names in soccer also emerged during the 70s, and they continue to influence the way the game is played to this day across the world.

The Evolution of Soccer Across the World

70s soccer was a completely different game to what it is today. Televised games were selective, but now it's possible to stream matches from around the world, with platforms like Peacock giving access to worldwide games, as well as more local matches. Classic tabletop football games quickly rose in popularity, but now they've since evolved to keep up with the fast pace of the digital world. If you have ever logged onto a Slingo casino then you'll notice games such as Slingoooal that can be played on any device.

A Defining Decade for Soccer

The 1970s was a defining decade for soccer. Manchester United's success in 1968 helped to pave the way for domination on a continental scale. England went into the 70s as World Champions as they beat West Germany in 1966, although the tables soon turned for the team as they lost that year.

Rising TV audiences in the US also showed that soccer was here to stay. The league's popularity in the States peaked in the late 1970s, with 13,000 fans per game in attendance between 1977 and 1983. The most prominent team of the era was the New York Cosmos, who signed some of the best players in the world, including Carlos Alberto, Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. The Cosmos effectively helped to put US soccer on the map, drawing in a worldwide audience while driving demand for more televised games.

During the 70s, the abolishment of the maximum wage was also starting to take real effect, leading to footballers getting bigger paychecks that would eventually go into the millions.

Women's soccer also progressed rapidly during this time. By 1979, 300 clubs were affiliated with the WFA, with 21 regional leagues and over 6000 players. This helped to pave the way for the USWNT, which began in 1985. The women's soccer team in the US played their first match, in which they lost to Italy.

As the years went by, more and more women began to play soccer and now it's as widely accepted. It's common to see women's soccer games played all over the world, with televised games drawing in many spectators. As women's soccer grew in popularity, it was added to the official program of the Olympics. This happened in 1996 at the Atlanta Games.