How big is a soccer field?
For international matches, a soccer field must be 100 to 110 meters long and 64 to 75 meters wide. Many top stadiums use a pitch of 105 by 68 meters.
The Laws of the Game, set by the International Football Association Board, allow more variety for ordinary matches: 90 to 120 meters long and 45 to 90 meters wide. The field must always be longer than it is wide. FIFA recommends 105 by 68 meters for major tournaments such as the World Cup.
Some markings are fixed regardless of field size. The goal is 7.32 meters wide and 2.44 meters high. The penalty spot is 11 meters from the goal line, and the penalty area extends 16.5 meters from the goal. The center circle has a radius of 9.15 meters, the distance opponents must stay away at kickoff.
Natural or artificial
Most top-level matches are played on natural grass, often reinforced with artificial fibers for strength. Fully artificial turf is allowed in some leagues. Teams sometimes adjust the size of their pitch within the rules, choosing a smaller field to make it harder for skillful opponents to find space.
Did You Know?
An area of 105 by 68 meters is about 7,140 square meters, which is why a soccer field is often used as a unit to describe the size of forests or buildings.