The LEGO Football (Soccer) subtheme was the first sport featured in the Sports theme and was released in 2000. Football sets play principle involved minifigures on fixed positions that were mounted on flexible stands in the center of small pits on the field. With this play concept, two large football fields for team matches and several small training setups with fewer figures were released.
2006 LEGO Sets
2006 was a year of creative resurgence, adding major themes while closing older ones. LEGO Batman debuted as the first full DC Comics collaboration, joined by Avatar: The Last Airbender, Exo-Force, and SpongeBob SquarePants. LEGO Mindstorms NXT modernized the robotics platform with sensors and wireless control, and Remote Control Trains replaced the 9V system. Vikings and Clikits ended, while standout collector sets such as the Technic Tow Truck (8285) and Boeing 787 Dreamliner (10177) strengthened LEGO’s appeal among adult fans.