The following article is about notable events in American soccer during the 1860s.

The 1860s were widely considered the first decade where organized forms association football codes were played in the United States, although it is uncertain whether or not it was variants of modern-day rugby football, American football or association football. The first reported types of organized ball kicking originated during the American Civil War, and following the Civil War the first official match reports for association football were reported.

Pre-1865

Oneida Football Club

The Oneida Football Club was established in 1862 by Gerrit Smith "Gat" Miller, a graduate of the Latin School of Epes Sargent Dixwell, a private college preparatory school in Boston. At the time there were no formal rules for football games, with different schools and areas playing their own variations. This informal style of play was often chaotic and very violent, and Miller had been a star of the game while attending Dixwell. However, he grew tired of these disorganized games, and organized other recent preparatory school graduates to join what would be the first organized football team in the United States.

The team consisted of a group of Boston secondary school students from relatively elite public (state) schools in the area, such as Boston Latin School and the English High School of Boston. Organization served the club well, and it reportedly never lost a game, or even allowed a single goal.

1866

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1866 calendar year.

Club matches

The following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1866.

Carroll College v Waukesha Town Club
Carroll College v Waukesha Town Team
Trinity College Class of 1869 v Trinity College Class of 1870

Another match between Waukesha Town Club and Carroll College was played on October 23, 1866, but the score of the match is unknown.

1867

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1867 calendar year.

Club matches

No club matches were reported during the 1867 calendar year.

1868

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1868 calendar year.

Club matches

The following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1868. The only reported soccer fixtures in the United States occurred in the Salt Lake City and New Orleans metropolitan areas.

Salt Lake City Team A v Salt Lake City Team B
West Jordan Lower Branch v West Jordan Middle Branch
New Orleans St. Joseph's Association v Challenge Team
New Orleans St. Joseph's Association v Challenge Team
New Orleans St. Joseph's Association v Challenge Team

1869

International matches

No international matches were played during the 1869 calendar year.

Club matches

The following are known American soccer club matches that were played in 1869. Reported matches primarily consisted of men's college soccer teams, mostly of Ivy League schools and military academies.

Columbia University v Brooklyn Poly Prep/Adelphia Academy
Columbia University v Brooklyn Poly Prep/Adelphia Academy
Washington & Lee University v Virginia Military Institute
Rutgers University v Princeton University
Princeton University v Rutgers University

The two matches between Rutgers and Princeton are generally regarded as the first ever games of American Football.