Good news: we know the answer.
Bad news: the answer is complicated, and there’s actually quite a bit of variation!
Soccer Field Dimensions: Not One Size Fits All
Most people know that soccer fields are generally bigger than other major sports fields like an American Football field, but soccer field size varies due to multiple factors like the governing body of the league, the age of the players, number of players, and true individualities between each field.
In fact, even the highest governing bodies of the sport like FIFA and IFAB issue windows of measurement for length and width, rather than exact measurements.
This is a big part of what makes a home-field advantage in soccer so unique! With so much to cover let’s start with soccer field dimensions as outlined in the laws of the game according to US Soccer.
US Youth Soccer Field Size Guidelines
As the governing body of youth and professional soccer in the United States, US Soccer provides multiple guidelines per age group for measuring the size of a soccer field.
There are three different youth soccer field dimensions recommended across leagues aged U6 through U12.
U6-U8 Soccer Field Sizes
- Length: 25-35 yards (23-32 meters)
- Width: 15-25 yards (14-23 meters)
U9-U10 Soccer Field Sizes
- Length: 55-65 yards (50-59.4 meters)
- Width: 35-45 yards (32-41 meters)
U11-U12 Soccer Field Sizes
- Length: 70-80 yards (64-73 meters)
- Width: 45-55 yards (41-50 meters)
Other variations between U6 and U12 leagues include goal size, ball size, number of players, game time, and whether the offside rules are enforced or not.
This is only a small part of what makes it complicated to answer when asked about how long is a soccer field, how wide is a soccer field, or even how big is a soccer field. It almost always varies!
There’s a longer conversation to be had about how these different field sizes and rule changes are meant to help younger American soccer players grow in the game more naturally like their international peers, but for now, let’s just say it helps to keep things more fun and exciting for every developing player involved.
Once players hit U13-U19 leagues they begin to play on the full-size or professional fields with 11 players per side under the guidelines provided by the IFAB and FIFA.
IFAB/FIFA Soccer Field Size Guidelines
While nearly every young soccer player is familiar with FIFA (thanks EA Sports!) the IFAB is the International Football Association Board.
What this means is that while FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the governing body of international soccer, the IFAB plays the role of rule-maker and modifier for the game.
In short, IFAB maintains or amends the rules, and FIFA actively enforces them. The two organizations have worked together to ensure the integrity of international soccer, futsal, and beach soccer for over 100 years. They are also the decision-makers when it comes to the size of a regulation soccer field.
Here are the recommended dimensions of a soccer field according to IFAB and FIFA for competition:
- Length (touchline): 100-130 yards (90-120 meters)
- Width (goal line): 50-100 yards (45-90 meters)
As you can see, even when it comes to FIFA soccer field dimensions there is a wide variety of potential field sizes. Even more important is that IFAB and FIFA have more exacting dimensions for international matches.
Here are the recommended dimensions for soccer field length and width for international competition:
- Length of touchline: 110-120 yards (100-110 meters)
- Length of goal line (width): 70-80 yards (64-75 meters)
Two important things to note about FIFA’s guidelines:
- Within a competition (for example the World Cup) FIFA maintains that field sizes must be consistent for each match.
- Field Measurements go to the outside edge of the playing lines as the inner edge of the touchline and goal line are still on the field of play.
Because numbers aren’t always the best way to illustrate the size of soccer fields, let’s make some common comparisons for reference.
How Big is a Soccer Field Compared to…
Soccer fields generally are some of the biggest playing fields for the most popular sports in the world. So how big are soccer fields?
For example, how wide is a soccer field vs. an American football field?
American Football fields are exactly 53 yards wide while soccer fields can be over 20 yards wider, and still be within the IFAB/FIFA’s guidelines.
Interestingly, American Football field dimensions are exact and consistent throughout the league instead of acceptable windows of measurement for the length and width like soccer fields.
Even baseball, which does allow variation in certain aspects of field size like soccer, only has a diamond that is approximately 42.5 yards across from first base to third base. Field variation is what makes home-field advantage so much more meaningful in soccer than in other sports. Let’s take a look at a few famous fields and their dimensions.
F.C. Bayern Field Dimensions
The powerhouse of the Bundesliga, Bayern F.C. has a soccer field that measures 105 meters by 68 meters inside of Allianz Arena. This is a popular field size in the Bundesliga, as competitors like Dortmund, Leverkusen, and SC Freiburg have soccer fields with equal dimensions. Fun fact: Allianz Arena is the second-largest sports arena in Germany!
Union Berlin is one of the teams in Bundesliga that opts for a larger field at 109 meters long, and 73 meters wide.
Even in the highest professional leagues the question of how wide is a soccer field or the length of a soccer field varies! Let’s take a look at an MLS franchise like the Philadelphia Union for example.
Philadelphia Union Field Dimensions
How many yards is a soccer field?
Well, if you’re asking about the one at Subaru stadium (which this writer has witnessed a few games in), it’s approximately 110 meters long and 68.5 meters wide.
Comparatively, fellow Eastern Conference competitor Atlanta United’s soccer field is 5 meters shorter in length, but the same width as the Union’s field. But how does this translate to an on-field advantage?
The Soccer Field Size Factor in Home Field Advantage
Often “home field advantage” is a phrase used to describe the advantage for one team to play in front of the hometown fans.
In soccer, because field sizes vary, it means so much more.
A team more comfortable on a shorter field is going to feel it as they have to translate their game across an extra 2-5 meters in length.
On the other foot, a team that’s comfortable on a longer field may find the pace on a shorter field more demanding. Space is tighter on a smaller field which means there’s even less margin for error when trying to move the ball toward the goal.
Knowing your team’s regular field size and comparing it to the fields they have to compete on will help you to recognize the adjustments the team will need to make.
Surprisingly, even with all this covered, we’ve still got quite a few measurements to make until we’re finished lining a soccer field.
Other Important Soccer Field Measurements
A soccer field isn’t just its goal lines and touchlines. There are quite a few other measurements you’re going to want to have on hand when it’s time to get the field ready like the center circle, goalkeeper box, and penalty box.
Here’s a quick reference you can bookmark for soccer field measurement guidelines.
4v4 Field Dimensions and Measurements (U6-U8 Field Size)
- Length (touchline): 25-35 yards (23-32 meters)
- Width (goal line): 15-25 yards (14-23 meters)
- The only other field marking is the Center Line which runs across the width of the field halfway between each touchline.
- Goal Size (Height x Width): 4 x 6 ft. (1.2 x 1.8 Meters)
- Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard (0.91 meters)
7v7 Field Dimensions and Measurements (U9-U10 Field Size)
- Length (touchline): 55-65 yards (50-59.4 meters)
- Width (goal line): 35-45 yards (32-41 meters)
- Center Circle Diameter: 16 yards (14.6 meters)
- Goal Area Dimensions: 4 x 8 yards (3.65 x 7.3 meters)
- Penalty Area Dimensions: 12 x 24 yards (10.1 x 21.9 meters)
- Penalty Spot: 10 yards (9.1 meters) out from Goal.
- Penalty Arc: Apex of the arc is 8 yards (7.3 meters) from the Penalty Spot.
- Goal Size (Height x Width): 6.5 x 18.5 ft. (2 x 5.6 meters)
- Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard (0.91 meters)
9v9 Field Dimensions and Measurements (U11-U12 Field Size)
- Length (touchline): 70-80 yards (64-73 meters)
- Width (goal line): 45-55 yards (41-50 meters)
- Center Circle Diameter: 16 yards (14.6 meters)
- Goal Area Dimensions: 5 x 16 yards (4.6 x 14.6 meters)
- Penalty Area Dimensions: 14 x 36 yards
- Penalty Spot: 10 yards (9.1 meters) out from Goal.
- Penalty Arc: Apex of the arc is 8 yards (7.3 meters) from the Penalty Spot.
- Goal Size (Height x Width): 7 x 21 ft. (2.1 x 6.4 meters)
- Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard (0.91 meters)
11v11 Field Dimensions and Measurements (IFAB/FIFA National Comp)
- Length (touchline): 100-130 yards (90-120 meters)
- Width (goal line): 50-100 yards (45-90 meters)
- Center Circle Diameter: 20 yards (18.3 meters)
- Goal Area Dimensions: 6 x 20 yards (4.6 x 18.3 meters)
- Penalty Area Dimensions: 18 x 44 yards (16.5 x 40.2 meters)
- Penalty Spot: 12 yards (10.9 meters) out from Goal.
- Penalty Arc: Apex of the arc is 10 yards (9.15 meters) from the Penalty Spot.
- Goal Size (Height x Width): 8 x 24 ft. (2.4 x 7.32 meters)
- Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard (0.91 meters)
11v11 Field Dimensions/Measurements (IFAB/FIFA International Comp)
- Length (touchline): 110-120 yards (100-110 meters)
- Width (goal line): 70-80 yards (64-75 meters)
- Center Circle Diameter: 20 yards (18.3 meters)
- Goal Area Dimensions: 6 x 20 yards (4.6 x 18.3 meters)
- Penalty Area Dimensions: 18 x 44 yards (16.5 x 40.2 meters)
- Penalty Spot: 12 yards (10.9 meters) out from Goal.
- Penalty Arc: Apex of the arc is 10 yards (9.15 meters) from the Penalty Spot.
- Goal Size (Height x Width): 8 x 24 ft. (2.4 x 7.32 meters)
- Corner Arc Diameter: 1 yard (0.91 meters)
That just about covers it, let’s have a quick recap!
Soccer Field Size Final Notes
We’ve covered quite a bit of information regarding the size and dimensions of soccer fields, but here it is boiled down into a few of the most important points.
- Soccer field size varies most often due to the number of players and age level.
- Soccer teams do not have to have fields that are the exact same size.
- Soccer fields have to fit within measurement windows rather than exact measurements.
- Learning how your field is larger or smaller than your competitor’s field can help you to strategize.
Go forward, and get the pitch prepared for matchday with confidence!
