Swamp football

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Swamp football (sometimes called Swamp soccer,^[1] and Suopotkupallo in Finnish) is a form of association football that is played in bogs or swamps. The sport originated in Finland, where it initially was used as an exercise for athletes and soldiers due to the strength needed to move through a bog. Swamp football is especially popular in the Kainuu region. The swamp football world championship is held annually at Hyrynsalmi, Kainuu.^[2] The first organized championship was the 1998 Finnish championship. There are currently an estimated 300 swamp football teams around the world.

The officially recognized global body for Swamp Football is Swamp Soccer UK Ltd, based in Scotland. Swamp Soccer UK's mission is to introduce the sport to other countries, primarily by organizing the Swamp Soccer World Cup. From 2011 to 2015, official tournaments have been launched in China (Beijing), Turkey (Istanbul) and India (Mumbai), led by Stewart Miller.