Soccer

While Alabama will forever be associated with football, there's plenty here for the "futbol" fan as well. Soccer leagues spanning from youth all the way up to adult can be found around the state. Organizations such as the Alabama Youth Soccer Association schedule yearly tournaments and events across the state. And they aren't the only ones. Groups like the West Alabama Soccer Association and the North Alabama Soccer League offer Alabamians ample opportunity to play competitive soccer. The women's soccer programs at both Alabama and Auburn allow young girls the opportunity to continue their soccer careers. The Red Diamond Vulcan Cup, which includes girls and boys teams from across the nation, has returned to Birmingham for the past eight years and collectively pumped $25,500,000 into the area's economy.

The state isn't without its share of soccer history. Birthplace to women's soccer legend Mia Hamm, Alabama has even hosted Olympic soccer. For the 1996 Summer Olympics, Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., was chosen to host the soccer games. Speaking of international soccer, in 2007 Alabama hosted "Futbol Internacional 2007," which was one of only four worldwide international women's soccer events of its kind outside of the World Cup and the Olympics. The events were held in cities across the state. From the youth level on up, Alabama is as great a place as any to take part in the world's most popular sport.