Even with all that popularity, few of us are aware of the official basics of this game. This is why we’re answering one of the fundamental questions about the game: What are the official FIFA soccer field dimensions?

The minimum length for the touchline is 90 meters, while the minimum for the goal line stands at 45 meters. The maximums stand at 120 meters for the touchline and 90 meters for the goal line. When it comes to international matches, the soccer pitch can range from 100 x 50 to 130 x 100 yards (100 x 64 to 110 x 75 meters).

Soccer fields can differ in size depending on the competition. Most of the time, the size of the field can be variable even in the same league.

However, certain FIFA standards need to be met by each stadium that this glorious game is played on.

The rest of this article will be the author’s attempt to entertain you by presenting those requirements, followed by a brief outline of the soccer field dimensions around different countries and leagues. Enjoy the reading!

FIFA Soccer Field Dimensions: A Deep Dive

With the basics of the soccer pitch dimensions out of the way, we can dive deeper into the dimensions of specific elements of the soccer field; what real aficionados want to know. Here’s what FIFA has to say about those dimensions:

Official Field Marking Dimensions

Even though it can be of different sizes, a soccer field must be rectangular and marked with continuous lines.

At the midpoint of the line that divides the field into two halves is the center point, around which a circle with a radius of 9.15 meters, or 10 yards, is drawn.

All lines need to be the same in width, which must not exceed 12 centimeters (5 inches). Both goal lines on the field have to be the same width as the goalposts and the crossbars.

Official Goal Dimensions

FIFA states that a goal must be placed at the center of each goal line. Approved materials must be used to build a structure that has 7.32 meters, or 8 yards, between the posts, as well as the height of 2.44 meters, or 8 feet, from the ground to the lower edge of the crossbar.

The goalposts and the crossbar must have the same width and depth, no larger than 12 centimeters, or 5 inches.

Official Goal Area Dimensions

According to the rulebook, two lines are drawn from the goal line, 5.5 meters, or 6 yards, from the inside of each goalpost.

Both of the lines extend 5.5 meters (6 yards) into the field and are then joined with a line that is parallel to the goal line.

Official Penalty Area Dimensions

Once again, two lines are drawn from the goal line. This time, they are 16.5 meters (18 yards) from inside of the goalposts.

The lines extend 16.5 meters (18 yards) into the field, where they are joined with a line parallel to the goal line. The penalty kick marker stands 11 meters (12 yards) from the midpoint of the goal. 

Outside of the penalty area, an arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 meters (10 yards) is drawn from the center of each penalty mark.

Official Corner Area Dimensions

Where the touchline and the goal line meet, marked with a quarter circle, is what we refer to as the corner area.

That quarter circle is drawn in the field of play and has a radius of 1 meter (1 yard) from each corner flagpost. What are the flagpost dimensions? Glad you asked:

Official Flagpost Dimensions

Each corner of the field of play in soccer is marked with a flagpost. This post has a minimum height requirement of 1.5 meters (5 feet).

Halfway lines can also be marked with flagposts, which are placed at least 1 meter (1 yard) away from the touchline and the field.

Official Technical Area Dimensions

The area in which team officials and players sit is called the technical area. Not all soccer venues have a designated sitting area of this type.

Those who do need to meet just a single dimension requirement: The technical area should only extend 1 meter (1 yard) from either side of the designated seated area and up to 1 meter (1 yard) from the touchline.

Soccer Field Dimensions Around the World

As mentioned several times in this text, soccer field dimension rules leave room for interpretation.

Setting the requirements that range from 90 to 120 meters in length, and from 45 to 90 meters in width, FIFA ensured that as many teams as possible are able to build stadiums that are up to standards.

Here are some of the leagues around the world and their typical soccer field dimensions:

Premier League Soccer Field Sizes

With 20 teams competing, England’s Premier League is one of the most interesting soccer competitions to observe.

Having that many teams mean that the differences in pitch sizes are inevitable. The majority of teams in England play on a pitch that is 105 meters (115 yards) long, and 68 meters (74 yards) wide. Some of the examples include:

• Arsenal (Emirates Stadium)
• Aston Villa (Villa Park)
• West Ham United (London Stadium)

Some teams, such as Manchester City, play on slightly bigger fields, while others, such as Sheffield United, built slightly smaller venues.

The difference in length and width between soccer fields in this league doesn’t exceed 3 meters. The biggest venue belongs to Manchester City, which is standing at 106 meters (116 yards) long, and just over 70 meters (77 yards) wide.

Major League Soccer Pitch Sizes

Far from being the most popular sport in the US, soccer still has a high following, with nearly 100 million people watching the last World Cup Finals from the States.

The US’ MLS consists of 26 teams, and their minimum soccer field dimensions stand at 100 meters (110 yards) in length and 65 meters (70 yards) in width.

However, the majority of teams play on pitches that are 105 meters (115 yards) long, and 69 meters (75 yards) wide. Some of the teams with soccer fields of this size include:

• Minnesota United FC (Allianz Field)
• Toronto FC (BMO Field)
• D.C. United (Audi Field)

The largest soccer field in the MLS belongs to Montreal Impact (Saputo Stadium), and it measures 110 meters (120 yards) in length and just over 70 meters (77 yards) in width. 

A-League Soccer Field Sizes

A-League is Australia’s highest-level soccer league. It counts 12 teams in total; 11 from Australia and 1 from New Zealand.

Official data shows that the FIFA standards are maintained down under, with the average soccer field measuring 105 meters long, and 68 meters wide. Unfortunately, no data on specific stadiums is available at the moment. 

Official Soccer Field Sizes for Children

As logic dictates, soccer fields dimensions can differ by age group that is meant to play on those fields. Let’s take a look at these:

Children Under the Age of 7

For this age group, the soccer field is 30 meters long and 20 meters wide. The goals are 2 meters wide, and 1 meter high.

Some rules for this age group are that a half lasts for 15 minutes, 4 players are allowed on the field, with no goalkeeper, and there’s no penalty area on the field. The ball used is a size 3.

Children Under the Age of 9

As the kid’s age, the field, the number of players allowed, and the time played all increase. The minimum field length for this age group is 40 meters, and the width is 30 meters.

The maximum for the soccer field is capped at 50 meters long and 40 meters wide. They’re playing for 20 minutes each half, with 7 players on both sides, still with the same-sized ball.

Children Under the Age of 11

For children under the age of 11, the minimum length of the soccer field is set at 70 meters, while the width is 50 meters.

The maximums are at 60 and 40 meters, respectively. Playtime is extended to 25 minutes per half, 9 players are in the game, and the ball is increased to a size 4.

Conclusion

Soccer is definitely one of the most popular pass times in the world, with an estimated 3.5 billion people enjoying the sport.

The majority of us sit in front of the TV, cheering our favorite players on as they kick the ball across the field, not even thinking about the majority of rules and regulations behind it all.

After familiarizing ourselves with the official FIFA soccer field dimensions and other data listed above, maybe we can all become just slightly more appreciative of the sport that has been around and growing for more than 2,000 years.

Playing on an oversized or undersized field will affect the players. The size of Youth soccer fields vary greatly, and we will discuss why in this article. But first, what are the standard official youth soccer field dimensions?

The official rule for the dimensions of standard youth soccer fields is outlined in this table according to the players’ age. 

The official soccer field size for adults ranges from 50-100 X 100-130 yards. However, even for adults, the rules allow soccer field sizes to be reduced for women, players with disabilities, and younger and older players. 

What is the standard for the dimensions on the official Youth Soccer Field for marking specific areas on the pitch? 

Official Youth Soccer Field Dimensions 

The laws stipulated as standard dimensions of all the parts of the soccer pitch are different for youth leagues. This is so that younger soccer players will have the opportunity to better develop their skills.

Hence, they play on smaller pitches according to their age. Otherwise, the young players will spend all of the matches chasing around a huge field and never touching the ball. That would be exhaustive. 

To make the game equally interesting for the young players, there are variations in the rules, especially in the lower age groups.

The rules not only affect the size of the pitch but also the number of players to be on the pitch at a time.

What are the dimensions for the soccer pitch according to age? 

Official Youth Soccer Field Dimensions By Age Group

In this section, we will discuss the rules as stipulated by FIFA laws. 

U6 

Children under 6 will play four-a-side soccer. They will often play for 4-10 minutes with four breaks. The size of the soccer field is smaller and should be about 15-20 x 25-35 yards.

The goal post should be smaller too at 4 x 5 feet. They will play without goalkeepers. 

U7 – U8

Children at this age will often play five-a-side soccer games without goalkeepers. The soccer field will also be smaller in size.

It should measure 25 yards x 35-40 yards. They will often play for the duration of two 25 minutes halves. 

U9 – U10

At this age, players are tall and can run around better. They will often play seven-a-side games. 

The FA recommends that the pitches measure 50 yards in width and 70 yards in length. They should play two halves of 30 minutes. The goal should measure 18 x 6 feet. 

U11 – U12

As the players advance in age, smaller fields will limit their enjoyment of the game. The soccer field will be bigger. Players that are under 12, and 11 should already be playing nine versus nine on a larger pitch.

They should play for two 30-minute halves.

FIFA recommends that the touchlines should span 70 yards in length by 50 yards in width. The goal will be 18 x 6 feet and each side will play with goalkeepers. 

U13 – U14

Players at this age should be playing the standard eleven versus eleven soccer games. The FA recommends that the soccer pitches stretch to 100-130 yards x 50-100 yards.

They would not play the full 90 minutes but the game would be divided into two 35 minute halves. Each goal should measure 24 x 8 feet.  

U15 – U16 

The pitch again increases in size for players in the 15 – 16 age group.

The soccer field dimensions should be 100-130 yards for the length and 50-100 yards for the width. The goal should measure 8 x 24 feet. 

After this age group, youth soccer progresses to full adult leagues. Most of the players in this age range can play standard size soccer fields because of their height and zeal. 

Dimensions of the Features on Soccer Fields 

The field sizes for U6 to U16 we outlined in this article are based on the recommended guidelines in the US Youth Soccer Modified Rules for youth Play.

For complete information, go to www.usyouthsoccer.org. Each league may vary by age group.

How do you measure the features on the soccer field? 

The Pitch

The surface must be a flat level surface with clean-cut grass of no more than 2.5 inches in height. The grass must not have any dangerous defects like exposed sprinkler heads or thorns. 

The Goals

The average size for posts and crossbars is 5 inches in width, and the net should be secured to the posts and crossbar.

We have discussed some of the different variations of goal sizes according to the size of the soccer field. 

For information on how to properly set up a soccer goal, consider the Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety.

Marks and Lines

Markings on the soccer field should be made with bold five inches wide lines in white. These markings are used to outline the different parts of the soccer pitch. 

The regulation field will be the touchlines measured by the measurements outlined in earlier parts of this article. There will also be another line called restraint lines for spectators.

The restraint line is painted a different color from the touchlines and is a minimum of 5 feet from the edge. Spectators will be on one side, and players should be on the other side of the field. 

Then there is the Corner Arc. This arc is measured at a radius of one yard from the respective corner. 

Other Features and Equipment 

There should be erections of corner flags right on the corner. Posts and mid-field markings should be measured accordingly.

The penalty area is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot, which is some yards from the goal line, directly in line with the center of the goal.

A penalty arc adjoins the penalty area, but it is not part of the penalty area and is only relevant when taking a penalty kick.

If you can’t properly size the fields, probably because of irregularities in age and height, it is better to undersize and not oversize the soccer field.

The games will be more fun. The young players will be able to learn more about soccer because of the exciting engagement. 

What to Consider When Measuring Soccer Field Dimensions 

The official size of soccer fields for adult players ranges from 50 – 100 yards in width and 100 – 130 yards in length.

However, the rules allow for a reduction in the sizes of soccer field sizes for women, players that have special needs, and youths as well as seniors. 

One of the worst mistakes a youth soccer league organizer can make is to allow teams to play on oversized fields.

If players have a game on a smaller field, they will have more touches and that will mean more fun. However, some players may not touch the ball at all on an oversized field. 

The size of the soccer field for each match must be in accordance with the average age and height of the players. 

For instance, if younger players play on a larger field, most of the game time will run out with the players not doing anything but running.

They will get too tired by half-time. The game will then degenerate into long kicks. The players will not be able to learn or implement tactics and team play on an oversized soccer field. 

So average athletes who are slower and don’t have much stamina should play on smaller soccer fields. 

The size of youth soccer fields should be based on the size of the steps that the average team player can take at a go and the length of their kick. 

If the league is “small-sided” or short on players and has to improvise with fewer players on each team, the dimensions of the soccer field maybe even smaller. 

As discussed earlier, youth teams should play 4 versus 4, 5 aside, and so on. When playing a “small-sided,” the younger players will have so much fun. 

Their game will improve a great deal if you play 3 or 4 per side on a 15 x 25 yards field. They will enjoy non-stop action.

As every one of them gets a lot of touches on the ball, they will make quick, short passes and tactics to make transitions from attack to defense. 

FIFA’s “Laws of the Game” are published annually. They are the official rules that guide soccer worldwide. For current rules and field sizes, go to “Laws of the Game” at www.fifa.com or check with.