Soccer Field vs American Football Field
Did you know the word football means something else across most of the world? Only the US sees football as a sport where the quarterback throws the ball with their hands, and the receiver scores a goal. In other parts of the world, football is what Americans call soccer.
Although football’s popularity in the US is unmatched, and soccer’s is far behind, there are still numerous fans for this sport, too. Globally, soccer is the beloved sport among billions of people, while football is barely even in the top 10. This fact raises the question of the differences between the two naturally.
The debate over success and football dates back for decades, but we’re not going to get into it right now. What we will discuss here is the difference between the two games, and we’ll give a special mention to the field on which both sports are played. Keep reading if you want to know more about this topic.
What are the Differences Between Soccer and Football?
Both games are played on a field, and in both games, the players kick the ball. Both teams aim to score goals, but in football, they are called touchdowns, and in soccer, simply goals. Although it seems like both originated from the same game, today are entirely different.
Football is played with hands, and only in some situations is the ball kicked with the players’ feet. The number of players on the field in both sports is 11 per team or 22 in total, but the concept and the aim are different. In soccer, ball touching with hands is not allowed except from the keeper and in a specific market area in front of their goal.
There are many other differences, of course, but these are some of the most notable ones. Finally, the pitch, or the field, is also slightly different. The dimensions of the soccer fields are a little wider than the ones of football, but both can be practiced on the same pitch if needed, which is why many MLS teams still play in the same arenas as NFL teams.
Is a Soccer Field Bigger Than a Football Field?
Yes, the soccer field is bigger than the football field. Comparing a soccer vs a football field is not easy because the measurements are not always the same. Many soccer federations worldwide will allow various field dimensions, but only the FIFA numbers are official for international matches.
How big is a soccer field in FIFA?
The official soccer field size is between 110 and 120 yards long and between 70 and 82 yards wide. Yes, these numbers may vary depending on the field. These are official FIFA numbers, but some world leagues may allow even bigger differences between fields.
On the other hand, football fields are always 100 yards, with an additional 20 yards for the end zone. The width is 53 and ⅓ yards or 160 feet. These are the exact numbers, and they are crucial for how the game is played. They are unchangeable.
With this being said it’s clear that the soccer field is slightly bigger than the football field. If you want to have a winner in the soccer field vs football field debate, then the first one is the one you should go with. Although there are slight differences, soccer is played on a bigger field.
Can a football field be used for soccer?
Yes, football and soccer are played on almost the same field. The organizer will only add the outlines before the game and the match is clear for kickoff. As we mentioned, some NFL and MLS teams share the same arenas. Not all 32 NFL football teams share their venues, but two of them do – The New England Patriots and the New England Revolution, the LA Chargers and the Los Angeles Galaxy, and others.
For the athletes, it’s pretty much the same playing on a soccer field compared to a football field because once you’re in the match, you pay no attention to the actual dimensions but to the play itself, and you intuitively follow the lines that will take you out of bounds or the goal.
Conclusion
Although one is more popular in the States and the other is more popular worldwide, both sports are equally exciting and interesting to watch. This is why many people are not familiar with the soccer field vs American football field debate. Hopefully, this article solves that debate.
Now, when someone asks – is a soccer field bigger than a football field, you can clearly answer with facts. The soccer field is generally bigger, but there are no exact numbers for each field in the world, which is not the case for football, as most fields have the same dimensions. Both are practiced in the same stadiums without problems.
The only issue for organizers is how much time they have between matches to redraw the lines. They surely know how long are NFL games, but sometimes it’s not easy to calculate. However, there’s no other obstacle than this.