Soviet football history

Soviet football, or soccer, emerged in the early 20th century and became a major sport by the 1920s. The Soviet Union established a national league in 1936 and joined FIFA in 1948. The national team enjoyed success, winning the first European Championship in 1960. They also reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1958 and 1966. Notable clubs like Dynamo Kyiv and Spartak Moscow thrived domestically and in European competitions. After the USSR dissolved in 1991, former republics formed their own leagues, but the legacy of Soviet football remains influential in the development of the sport in Eastern Europe.