A football pitch (also known as a soccer field, football field, or football ground) is the playing surface used for the sport of Association Football. Its dimensions, markings, and specifications are precisely defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, which are maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Dimensions
A football pitch is rectangular. The length of the touchline (the longer boundary) must always be greater than the length of the goal line (the shorter boundary).-
General Dimensions:
- Length (Touchline): Minimum 90 meters (100 yards), maximum 120 meters (130 yards).
- Width (Goal Line): Minimum 45 meters (50 yards), maximum 90 meters (100 yards).
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International Matches Dimensions: For international competitions, more stringent dimensions are applied to ensure uniformity.
- Length: Minimum 100 meters (110 yards), maximum 110 meters (120 yards).
- Width: Minimum 64 meters (70 yards), maximum 75 meters (80 yards). A common standard for professional matches, including those in the FIFA World Cup, is 105 meters (115 yards) in length by 68 meters (74 yards) in width.
Markings
The pitch is delineated by various lines, all of which must be the same width, not exceeding 12 cm (5 inches). These lines form part of the area they enclose.- Boundary Lines:
- Touchlines: The two longer boundary lines.
- Goal Lines: The two shorter boundary lines, where the goals are placed.
- Halfway Line: Divides the pitch into two equal halves, running parallel to the goal lines.
- Centre Mark and Centre Circle: A mark is placed at the midpoint of the halfway line (the "centre mark"). Around this mark, a circle with a radius of 9.15 meters (10 yards) is drawn (the "centre circle"). The kick-off is taken from the centre mark, and opposing players must remain outside the centre circle until the ball is in play.
- Goal Area (Six-yard box): Located at each end of the pitch, within the penalty area. Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 5.5 meters (6 yards) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend 5.5 meters (6 yards) into the field of play and are joined by a line parallel to the goal line. Goal kicks are taken from anywhere within this area.
- Penalty Area (Eighteen-yard box): A larger rectangular area at each end of the pitch. Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5 meters (18 yards) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend 16.5 meters (18 yards) into the field of play and are joined by a line parallel to the goal line. Fouls committed by a defending player inside their own penalty area that would normally result in a direct free kick are penalised with a penalty kick.
- Penalty Mark: A mark 11 meters (12 yards) from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. This is the spot from which penalty kicks are taken.
- Penalty Arc: An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 meters (10 yards) drawn from the penalty mark outside the penalty area. During a penalty kick, all players, except the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper, must remain outside this arc and the penalty area.
- Corner Area: A quarter circle with a radius of 1 meter (1 yard) drawn inside the pitch from each corner flagpost. Corner kicks are taken from within this area.
- Corner Flagposts: Flagposts, at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) high, are placed at each corner of the pitch. They are often surmounted with a non-pointed flag. Similar flagposts may also be placed at each end of the halfway line, outside the touchline.
Goals
A goal is placed centrally on each goal line. It consists of two vertical posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.- The distance between the inside of the posts is 7.32 meters (8 yards).
- The distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 meters (8 feet). Nets are typically attached to the goalposts and crossbar and are supported behind the goal, though they are not explicitly required by the Laws of the Game for a goal to be valid.