How big is a football goal?
Officials' detail · The pitch, the goal, the ball and the kit · 2 of 4Checked 13 October 2026
A football goal is 7.32 metres wide between the posts and 2.44 metres high under the crossbar, which is 8 yards by 8 feet. The posts and crossbar are white and no more than 12 cm wide. Competitions may use goal-line technology, which tells the referee within a second whether the ball crossed the line.
How it works
- 7.32 metres between the inside of the posts; 2.44 metres from the ground to the lower edge of the crossbar.
- Posts and crossbar: white, the same shape, no more than 12 cm wide and deep.
- Goals must be fixed firmly to the ground. Nets may be attached.
- If the crossbar breaks or moves, play stops until it is repaired and restarts with a dropped ball. If it cannot be repaired, the match is abandoned. A rope cannot replace it.
- Goal-line technology applies only to the goal line, and only to decide whether a goal was scored.
Tricky cases
What happens if the crossbar breaks?
Play stops. If it cannot be repaired or replaced, the match must be abandoned.
Does every match have goal-line technology?
No. Only where the competition's rules provide for it.
Why the rule exists
One goal size everywhere makes scoring comparable across every match in the world.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All football under the Laws | As above | L1.10, 1.11 |
| Youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football | Goal size can be changed | L Notes |
From the rule book
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 1.10 and 1.11, in force from 1 July 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: IFAB Laws of the Game (PDF).