Section 3: Playing Area (Law 1)
The Field of Play
The field must be a rectangular natural or artificial turf surface, green in color. The field is defined by boundary lines: two longer touchlines and two shorter goal lines. The field is divided into two halves by the halfway line.
Dimensions
- Touchline (length): Minimum 90 m (100 yards), Maximum 120 m (130 yards)
- Goal line (width): Minimum 45 m (50 yards), Maximum 90 m (100 yards)
- International matches: Length 100–110 m, Width 64–75 m
- The touchline must be longer than the goal line
Field Markings
- Center circle: Radius of 9.15 m (10 yards) from the center mark
- Penalty area: 16.5 m (18 yards) from each goal post and 16.5 m into the field
- Goal area: 5.5 m (6 yards) from each goal post and 5.5 m into the field
- Penalty mark: 11 m (12 yards) from the midpoint of the goal line
- Penalty arc: Arc of 9.15 m radius from the penalty mark, outside the penalty area
- Corner area: Quarter circle with 1 m radius from each corner flag post
The Goals
Goals are placed at the center of each goal line. They consist of two vertical posts equidistant from the corner flag posts, joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The distance between the inside of the posts is 7.32 m (8 yards) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m (8 feet). Goal posts and crossbars must be white. Nets must be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal.