The Cuju is a sport of ancient Chinese. This ancient sport is the prototype of contemporary football. It is considered to be the origin of the modern football.

The game of Cuju similar to modern football, but there are several different ways to play and rules. There are three categories of games: The game direct, indirect and the game play individually.

The history of Cuju can be traced over 2300 years. Everything began to Linzi, the capital of the Qi State during the Chun and Qiu Periods. The Cuju experienced a tremendous increase during the Han dynasty.

Cuju became very popular during the Tang and Sung dynasties. Fresco drawing a game of Cuju horse (playing Cuju on the horses), shows a scene of noble playing Cuju on horseback. The Cuju has greatly developed during the Sung dynasty. In the novel Water Margin, there are several paragraphs describing the emperor play Cuju with officers of the court.

The Cuju greatly influenced the modern football. During the Tang Dynasty, the Cuju was extended to Japan, Korea, and Western Europe, and turned into football in Britain.

On 15 July 2004, at the press conference of the Third International Exhibition of Chinese Football, FIFA had officially declared that China is the origin land of football.