How offensive is “soccer” for brits?

I wouldn't call it offensive. Brits and Europeans in general just call it football. Also fun fact: the word "soccer" is of British origin.

It's not as if "soccer" has never been used here. The annual publication in the image is from 1995 but I remember it from back in the 70s: https://images.app.goo.gl/JqPWp

They're probably used to it cause a lot of Irish people use Soccer

It isn't at all offensive. Most Brits think it is American, and therefore wrong. But if you want to really wind them up, tell them Soccer is a British word, coming from 19th century boarding school slang, which very often used -er abbreviations/nicknames for things. The two forms of football being codified in England at the time were Association Football and Rugby Football. Soccer and Rugger.

Speaking on behalf of all men from Britain.. you'll be fine! But expect the necessary lecture on the fact it's football.. not soccer 😁 If anyone gets slightly riled, just ask them why it was called Soccer A.M.? Should diffuse the situation..

You won't get your ass kicked but people will probably say not to call it that if you're in England or Wales.

It's the most serious offence

You'll out yourself as an American and might get teased a bit about it as a result. But no one, save for maybe the odd drunken asshole, is going to be offended by it. At least no Brit I've met ever REALLY cared other than to poke fun at my American-ness. If you're in Europe though, probably a good idea to start getting used to calling it football and calling NFL American football, just to avoid confusion.

One might expect a small degree of ribbing, as well as criticisms of American football really being hand-egg, and the like.

You won’t get your ass kicked but I imagine you will get corrected every single time.

You’ll probably get the tut. There are few worse punishments in polite circles.

P.S. It's not just Brits & Europeans who call soccer "football". We also use "football" [here in Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Football_Confederation). :)

You'll be deported to fr*nice.

Don’t call it soccer. You’ll get picked up on it and, although you’re not going to get your head kicked in, it’s just easier to avoid the argument lol.

If you are foreign it's half expected that you'd get it wrong. What I find really riles people is a native person who is also a football player calling it "soccer" to a bunch of their footballer mates during a game.

Not really offensive. It is not just Americans who call it soccer. Any country with more than one form of football does that. Even Britain itself has Rugby Union and Rugby League, as other forms of Football. So it is fine to call it soccer. Lots of British people do.

While you’re at it, ask them why their pitch (= field) measurements are in yards.

You’d be corrected thats all

I would advise against it.

I would recommend calling football, football unless you're setting out to antagonize people.