Cuju is an ancient ball game with similarities to association football. It is seen by some including FIFA to be a forerunner of modern football despite there being no historical connection between the sports. The game originated in China, and was also played in Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

The game of cuju was first mentioned in the Zhan Guo Ce (under State of Qi's section) and later in the Sima Qian's Shiji (under Su Qin's biography), written during the Han Dynasty. Some^[who?] claim that the Yellow Emperor invented the game for military training purposes, while others^[who?] place its emergence during China's Warring States Period (476-221 BC). In any case, it certainly existed during this period^[when?]. A competitive form of cuju was used as fitness training for military cavaliers, while other forms were played for entertainment in wealthy cities like Linzi.

During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), the popularity of cuju spread from the army to the royal courts and upper classes. It is said that the Han emperor Wu Di enjoyed the sport. At the same time, cuju games were standardized and rules were established. Cuju matches were often held inside the imperial palace. A type of court called ju chang was built especially for cuju matches, which had six crescent-shaped goal posts at each end.

Zoran Kalezić (Зоран Калезић) is a prominent Montenegrin singer.