DwainKilgore21 at 04:20, 12 December 2025

2025-12-12T04:20:41Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox sport
| name = Elephant soccer
| image = File:Elephant soccer chiang mai.JPG
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption = Elephant football in [[Chiang Mai|Chiangmai, Thailand]]
| union =
| nickname = 
| first =
| firstlabel =
| registered =
| clubs =
| contact =
| team =
| mgender =
| type =
| equipment = elephants
| venue =
| glossary =
| countries involved =
| region = Thailand, Nepal and India
| olympic =
| world =
| paralympic =
| obsolete =
| IWGA =
}}
'''Elephant football''' or '''elephant soccer''' is an [[animal show]] from [[Thailand]], [[Nepal]] and [[India]], taking the form of an [[association football]] variant played on [[elephant]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elephant Soccer |url=https://www.topendsports.com/sport/unusual/elephant-soccer.htm |website=Top End Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Elephant football, Nepal - picture of the day| work = the Guardian| access-date = 2024-11-20| date = 2014-08-25| url = http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/picture/2012/dec/28/elephant-festival-nepal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| title = Elephant football draws crowds in Nepal| access-date = 2024-11-20| date = 2009-12-30| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8435112.stm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| last = 由荟圆| title = Players participate in elephant football game in Nepal - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn| access-date = 2024-11-20| url = http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/27/c_1125394315.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Elephants play football in Nepal| work = Metro| access-date = 2024-11-20| date = 2012-12-29| url = https://metro.co.uk/2012/12/29/elephants-play-football-in-nepal-3332646/}}</ref><ref name="s593">{{cite web | last=Lemon | first=Jason | title=Elephants Play Soccer in Thailand Ahead of World Cup | website=Newsweek | date=2018-06-12 | url=https://www.newsweek.com/elephants-play-soccer-thailand-world-cup-anti-gambling-campaign-972481 | access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref><ref name="s571">{{cite web | title=Thai elephants kick off anti-gambling campaign ahead of World Cup | website=Reuters | date=2018-06-12 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/thai-elephants-kick-off-anti-gambling-campaign-ahead-of-world-cup-idUSKBN1J817Z/ | access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref><ref name="x293">{{cite web | last=Dearden | first=Lizzie | title=World Cup 2014: Elephants show off ball skills in Thailand football | website=The Independent | date=2014-06-09 | url=https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/international/world-cup-2014-elephants-show-off-ball-skills-in-thailand-football-match-9512381.html | access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref><ref name="q468">{{cite web | title=Elephants kick-off World Cup fever in Thailand | website=AS USA | date=2018-06-13 | url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/06/13/soccer/1528924610_814610.html | access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref><ref name="n758">{{cite web | last=Media | first=Griffin | title=Elephants In Thailand Play Soccer | website=Breaking News in Oklahoma City, OK | date=2022-12-14 | url=https://www.news9.com/story/639a18eb01681e072526fd06/elephants-in-thailand-play-soccer | access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref>

==Rules==
Elephant football is played with similar rules to association football, but all players must be riding elephants. The elephants will attempt to kick the ball into the opposition's net to score a [[Goal (sports)|goal]]. Elephant football is played on a smaller [[Football pitch|pitch]] to association football, and is played with a large inflatable ball, rather than a standard [[Ball (association football)|football]].

==See also==
* [[Elephant Polo]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Association football variants]]
[[Category:Elephants and humans]]
[[Category:Animals in sport]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Thailand]]

{{Elephants}}

Elephant football - Revision history

DwainKilgore21 at 04:20, 12 December 2025