"The women play soccer."

Translation: Les femmes jouent au football.

[jstrickert]

Explain the use of "au" football rather than "du"" football, please. That was confusing to me.

[AmineHadji1]

In French, we say jouer au+ the game. Jouer du football would imply that football is an instrument (maybe a musical one), but not a game.

[Sitesurf]

"jouer de" is used with musical instruments: je joue du piano, de la guitare.

"jouer" is used with sports and games: je joue au football, au Scrabble, à la balle, aux échecs.