Does an own goal count in football?
B · Beginner · How is a goal scored, and how is a match won? · 2 of 17Checked 13 October 2026
Yes.
A ball a defender puts into their own net from open play is a goal for the other team. But a team cannot score
directly into its own goal from its own restart: a free kick, goal kick, corner kick or throw-in that goes
straight into the kicker's own goal gives the opponents a corner kick instead.
How it works
- In open play, a goal is a goal whichever team last touched the ball.
- From your own team's restart straight into your own goal, without anyone else touching it: corner kick to the opponents.
- This applies to kick-offs, free kicks (direct or indirect), goal kicks, corner kicks and throw-ins.
- Who is credited with an own goal in the statistics is not part of the Laws.
Tricky cases
A goal kick was miskicked straight into the kicker's own net. Is it a goal?
No. It is a corner kick to the opponents.
A back-pass slipped past the goalkeeper into the net. Is it a goal?
Yes. In open play an own goal counts.
Why the rule exists
A restart is meant to give the team the ball, not a way to score against itself by mistake.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All football under the Laws | As above | L8.1, 13.1, 15, 16, 17 |
| Statistics | Who is credited is set by the competition | Not covered |
From the rule book
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Laws 8.1, 10.1, 13.1, 15, 16 and 17, in force from 1 July 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: IFAB Laws of the Game (PDF).