Football Pitch Size: Why Are They Not All The Same?

One of the most significant aspects of playing football is the quality and size of the playing surface. Although there are certain perimeters when it comes to pitch sizes, they can be slightly different in dimensions.

So, what size should a football pitch be?

Well, the official recommendation from football’s official governing body, FIFA, is that a pitch should be 115 yards (105 meters) long by 74 yards (68 meters) wide.

However, the English FA recommends that an 11-aside, full-size pitch should be 110 yards (100.58 meters) long by 70 yards (64.01 meters) wide.

Pitches at the top level can be slightly bigger and can measure from 112 to 115 yards long by 70 to 75 yards wide. However, pitches used in amateur football can be of different sizes, which range from 100 to 130 yards long by 50 to 100 yards wide.

According to the Premier League rulebook for the 2022/23 season, pitches should be 115 yards (105 m) by 74 yards (68 m).

The difference in sizes of the pitches is evident by the fact that the whole surface of the area of the pitch can range from 4,050 to 10,800 square meters.

Five-aside pitches are obviously much smaller in length and width. The recommended pitch size is 40 x 30 yards (36.5m x 27.5m).

Teams can use full pitches to play 5-aside games. However, for the game to be played properly, the pitch must have portable goals and alternative pitch markings on the surface.

How have pitches been used to clubs advantage?

Many clubs have used the leeway on pitch sizes and dimensions to suit their style of play.

One famous example was Stoke City in season 2008/09 when the Potters reduced their pitch at the Britannia Stadium to 100 metres by 64 to aid their direct style of football.

The tactic seemed to do the trick, as Tony Pulis’ team won ten of their 19 Premier League home games.

For season 2011/12, the club from the English Potteries had to enlarge their pitch in order to comply with UEFA regulations when they qualified for the Europa League.

Another example from slightly further back in time was Scottish giants Rangers reducing their pitch at Ibrox in season 1987/88 when they welcomed Ukrainian team Dynamo Kiev in the first round of the European Cup.

This was in an effort to disrupt Dynamo’s usual expansive style of football. The decision worked for the Scottish champions, as they recorded a 2-0 win to cancel out a first-leg 1-0 deficit.

However, Rangers exited the competition in the quarter-final stage against Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest, suffering a 3-2 aggregate defeat.

In 2000, then Wales boss Mark Hughes asked for a slight reduction in the pitch at the Millennium Stadium.

This was ahead of an international friendly against South American giants Brazil, as he thought a more narrow pitch would work against the Selecao’s wingers.

Unfortunately for the Dragons, the decision didn’t help the result, as the visitors recorded a comfortable 3-0 win courtesy of goals from Elber, Rivaldo and Cafu.

What are the sizes of pitches at Europe’s biggest stadiums?

The majority of Europe’s biggest stadiums all reportedly have the same pitch size. Wembley, the Santiago Bernabeu, the San Siro, the Nou Camp and the Allianz Arena all have pitches of 115 yds (105 m) by 74 yds (68 m).

However, one of the most famous football stadiums in England, Liverpool’s Anfield, has a slightly small pitch. The dimensions of the playing surface pitch are actually 110 yds (101m) by 74 yds (68m).

Anfield’s pitch size has caused an issue in recent years, as it was omitted from the stadiums chosen to host games at Euro2028, a tournament that England will co-host alongside Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The reason it was omitted is because the pitch is considered too small by UEFA to host tournament games. The regulations also mean that Anfield is unable to host finals of tournaments such as the Europa Conference League, the Europa League and the Champions League.

Chelsea’s Stadium Bridge was also omitted for the same reason, although some would argue it probably wouldn’t have been in the top ten list of UK stadiums regardless of the pitch size.

Just another fascinating facet of the game

The late great former Liverpool boss Bill Shankly is quoted as saying, “Football is a simple game complicated by idiots”.

However, those involved in the game are constantly finding more and more elaborate ways of gaining an advantage. Sometimes, their ideas are considered idiotic, although adjusting the pitch to suit the style of a team’s play may be one of the more creative ideas rather than being idiotic.

However, as Mark Hughes’ experience with Wales against Brazil showed, it’s a tactic that doesn’t necessarily always pay off.

It won’t stop teams from attempting in the future. As with anything in football, if it can give a team an edge, then it is likely to be considered as a possible tactic to win games.