This study examines the development of the domain of football, the representations attached to it, and the functions it fulfilled between 1960 and 2002. The research aims to elucidate how an activity initially perceived as trivial gradually acquired cultural significance, ultimately functioning as a structured social space. At what precise moment did a distinct field, with its own operational rules, personnel, and stakes, come into existence? This approach is essential, as it reveals the profound impact of social, cultural, and political processes on the establishment of this space. To investigate the formation of the football domain in Senegal, the study predominantly utilizes a diachronic and synchronic analysis of a documentary corpus, which includes academic research and newspaper clippings covering the specified period. This documentary analysis is further enriched by interviews conducted within each defined temporal sequence. The study identifies four distinct phases in the process of forming and consolidating the football field in Senegal. Findings indicate that a unique space dedicated to this sport emerged, establishing principles and criteria that serve to classify and stratify individuals within society. As football gained legitimacy, its influence extended significantly over citizens’ daily lives, as well as over the strategies of public authorities, individuals, and groups. It has evolved into a primary consensual platform, fulfilling vital political and social functions, while constructing new social representations associated with football’s societal status.