Football and soccer - negotiating American and British English vocabulary

As someone that learned English as foreign language one problem I have ran into in my vocabulary building is the difference in words between British and American English. Since I am European, I learned British spelling, vocabulary and even accent. We do love our British English here in the North. Generally speaking, I would say I am more comfortable personally with British English but I've concentrated more on American English lately, as I have been exposed much muh more to British. But the fact is that any way we slice it, it is not enough for someone to know English vocabulary specific to one country only. So I am in the unique position of having to learn and develop my vocabulary in many different types of English, with emphasis on British and American. One can throw into that mix as well Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Indian and so much else. So I got my hands full. Generally I enjoy this challenge and it fascinates me. But sometimes it can throw me for a loop.

One such instance is the word 'football'. In Nordic language the sport is called 'fodbold'. And in British English and every other European language I have studied and am familiar with the sport is referred to by the two words that directly reflect it, 'foot' and 'ball'. 

This is the sport which is known as football here in Europe

And then there enters American English in all its glory. In American English the word 'football' refers to something completely else, a totally different sport that has nothing to do with feet or a ball. 

It refers to this sport here

And the sport that is referred to everywhere else as 'football'/fodbold/fútbol in every other language is called 'soccer'. I mean where does that word even come from?! How on earth did someone figure out that a sport that involves both feet and balls should be called soccer but a sport that involves clutching the ball and using excessive force when competing should be called 'football'. It makes no logical sense whatsoever!

This used to drive me nuts. I have a distinct memory of arguing about the meaning of the word soccer with my brother when I was little as I refused to believe it existed and that the word football referred to a completely different word in American English. One of the many benefits of having grown up learning English is that it opened my way into the fascinating world of languages and discovering English. I wouldn't trade that for the world. 

Since that time, my vocabulary has grown. This annoyance does still mildly exist but I have learned to see the humour in it.

And there enters a show like NCIS:LA which thrives in a way on language jokes and they have poked fun at this.

In episode 2x20 'The Job' Deeks pretends to be injured when he meets a British woman and he pretends to be a footballer. And the following conversation ensues (paraphrased):

British woman: "Oh my God, are you a footballer?"

Deeks: "This is America, so we call it soccer, but yeah".

And I sat there grinning like an idiot while listening to the conversation. I love the fact that this discrepancy between British and American English was taken a light jab at and acknowledged. And typical Deeks to correct the British woman. And kudos to NCIS:LA for pulling off such an awesome language joke!

I love language jokes and playing around with language so it are scenes like this that make me grin and laugh. I am happy and grateful to be an English major and to be an EFL speaker. It puts me in such a great position of learning English, experiencing it and being fascinated by it.