If your kids have spent the summer recreating Jude Bellingham screamers in the garden after getting swept up in the World Cup, investing in your own football goal at home will make it dead easy for them to enjoy the beautiful game whenever they fancy.
The best football goals for kids are quick to assemble, sturdy enough to withstand countless shots and available in a range of sizes to suit everything from compact gardens to sprawling lawns. Some are designed to stay outside all year round. Others fold away in minutes for easy storage or trips to the park.
Our football-loving testers, aged six to 10, channelled their inner Harry Kane to put a range of goals through their paces. We assessed ease of assembly, sturdiness, overall quality, durability and portability to find the ones worth propping up in your garden for this summer and beyond.
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The best kids’ football goals for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Forza 8x6 football goal post: £78.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Opti pro metal goal: £55, Argos.co.uk
- Best for little kids – Forza flash goal: £12.99, Forza.com
- Best for small gardens – Amazon basics portable pop up soccer goal: £16.36, Amazon.co.uk
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Forza 8x6 football goal post
Best: football goal for kids overall
Why we love it
- Made to last
- Choice of sizes
- Easy to assemble
- Excellent quality
Take note
- Adding the net is a little fiddly
If you’re looking for a highly durable, sturdy goal that will absolutely stand the test of time in your garden, you can’t beat this classic garden goal from Forza. Made from tough, weather-resistant UPVC, the frame is designed to face the elements (whether that’s rain, frost or just an enthusiastic 10-year-old living out their FA Cup Final penalty shoot-out dreams).
I love how easy it is to assemble, with no tools required – you just have to slot and click the frame together before adding the net, which is a little fiddly but was quick enough. The goal took less than 15 minutes to set up, and was lightweight enough for two of us to move around the garden before I added the U-pegs to fix it in place.
My testers loved the fact this model looked like a “proper football goal”, and it certainly does look the business. We tested the 8ft x 6ft goals, which the website says is perfect for six to nine-year-olds, but we can’t see our nine-year-old growing out of it any time soon.
In fact, we found it was big enough for us adults to join in with the kids, without having to be too precise with our (poor) shooting skills. It’s also available in 12ft x 6ft, 8ft x 4ft, 6ft x 4ft. There’s a reason Forza is such a big name in football goals, and there’s a lot to love about this one. It’s a brilliant all-rounder, at a great price, that’s built to last.
Key specifications
Buy now £78.99, Amazon.co.uk
Opti pro metal goal
Best: budget football goal
Why we love it
- Net is easy to attach
- Good value
- Shallow depth ideal for small gardens
Take note
- Not fully weather-proof
If you’re after a decent size goal for primary-school-age children, that comes in at under £50, the Opti pro metal goal is a great budget buy. It’s not the cheapest on my list, but in terms of quality, it offers the best value for moneny. It’s mercifully easy to assemble by slotting the frame parts together, then attaching the net with thick Velcro strips. I was a little dubious about whether the Velcro would be able to hold the net securely in place, but the straps didn’t budge even when faced with a constant stream of footballs from our testers.
Despite the lack of back stanchions, the frame felt sturdy, although it definitely needed the ground pegs in place to anchor the goal safely. And, while it’s weather resistant, I do wonder how well the metal frame will stand up against the harshest British weather over extended time outside.
At 91cm deep, I think this is a great choice for smaller gardens, and at less than 8kg in weight it’s easy enough to move around the garden if needed. The height and width make this ideal for younger children – if you’re buying for a tween or teen you may want to consider one of the bigger goals in my roundup.
My six- and nine-year-old testers like the matte black frame, which they confirmed was “very cool” and for £44, I think it’s a good budget option.
Key specifications
Buy now £55, Argos.co.uk
Forza flash goal
Best: first football goal for little kids
Why we love it
- Chunky ground stakes
- Folds down
- Includes carry bag
Take note
- Poles a little stiff during assembly
Buying a first goal for toddlers or preschoolers doesn’t mean you need to settle for a flimsy novelty product. For a tenner you can get a great quality portable goal, shrunk down to miniature size instead. The Forza flash goal is the same high-quality you’d expect from the brand, but at just 3 ft x 2.2ft, it’s the right height and width for budding strikers. It comes with chunky yellow ground anchors and can even cope with ball impacts of up 30kg, so unless you have a tiny Ronaldo on your hands you should be fine.
While I did find the fibreglass poles a little stiff to fix in place during assembly, once the goal was built it handily folded down (pop-up tent style) into a nifty wedge shape, fitting perfectly into the carry bag included. The convenience of having a goal that simply pops up and folds down in seconds is a massive win when little kids are concerned.
My six-year-old tester loved this mini goal , but if you’re buying for an older child you may get on better with a larger flash goal – it’s available in 4ft x 3ft, 5ft x 3.5ft and 7ft x 5ft.
Key specifications
Buy now £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
Forza proflex pop up football goal
Best: football goal for older kids
Why we love it
- Very easy to set up
- Includes carry bag
- Excellent quality
Take note
- Designed to be disassembled after use
When I say this took minutes to set up, I’m not joking. It’s an absolute dream if you need a football goal in a hurry; all the parts are pre-attached and assembly is as simple as folding out the frame, attaching the poles and hooking the net in place. The instructions are very clear, but after you’ve set it up once you won’t need them, it’s that simple.
My nine- and 10-year-old testers loved the look of this, particularly the unique bendy side poles. It made a really smart addition to the garden. Although the goal is made from top-quality weather-resistant materials, such as galvanised steel, fibreglass poles, and polyester netting, Forza states this goal is designed to be taken down after use – the Forza UPVC goal is the best choice for year-round outdoor use. This isn’t a biggie as it’s so simple and quick to put up and take down – plus there’s a carry bag to store it in – but if you’re after a permanent goal it’s worth being aware with these brand guidelines.
I was so impressed with how sturdy this goal was, particularly once the steel pegs were in place, and the box-goal design gives it a very premium look and feel. I think it’s a great choice for older kids and teens.
Key specifications
Buy now £87.99, Forza.com
Amazon basics portable pop up soccer goal
Best: kids’ football goal for small gardens
Why we love it
- Lightweight and portable
- Includes carry bag
- Great value
Take note
- Not as sturdy as others in the roundup
It took minutes to set up this lightweight goal – the fibreglass poles are similar to tent poles, with strong bungee cord running through, and just needed to be guided through the net edging. Once up, it measures a decent 1.82m x 1.21m, with a depth of 1.23m, making it an ideal size for kids up to around 10-years-old and well suited to smaller gardens.
It may be lightweight, but this goal stood up to multiple penalty shoot-outs, no problem – although the U-shaped ground pegs were an essential addition when the older kids got involved. I like that it folds down and pops-up after the initial build, and that it comes with its own carry bag.
The fibreglass frame and the net are designed to handle prolonged outdoor use, so would work as an all-weather option as well as a portable one. Our goal has been taken on trips to the park (the fluorescent edging makes sure you won’t lose your kids) and to the grandparents’, without taking up hardly any room in the car. Overall, I think it’s a great, affordable option for smaller spaces.
Key specifications
Buy now £16.36, Amazon.co.uk
Kipsta football goal kage
Best: kids’ football goal for the beach
Why we love it
- Built-in carry handle and peg store
- Stylish design
- Portable size
Take note
- Not weather-proof
If you can’t imagine a holiday without a family kickabout, this portable goal from Kipsta is perfect for the beach or campsite. It comes with a wraparound cover and carry strap attached (which means you’ll never misplace it), so all you have to do is undo the toggles, click open the frame and add the pegs (which come in their own pouch attached to the base).
Measuring 95cm x 70cm, it’s not huge – it’s the same size as the Forza flash goal I tested – so better suited to younger children. That said, it’s a decent enough size for beach or campsite friendlies and lightweight enough that I wouldn’t mind lugging it around with the rest of our travelling gear.
The frame is sturdy enough for kickabouts and I love how simple it is to fold and unfold – my nine-year-old tester had no problems setting it up and packing it away independently.
Key specifications
Buy now £27.99, Decathlon.co.uk
Opti 2 in 1 pop up target training football goal
Best: football goal for target practise
Why we love it
- Carry bag
- Includes football and pump
Take note
- A little flimsy
If your mini kicker wants to put their precision skills to the test, this pop-up goal is ideal. It’s ready to use almost straight away, simply pop it up, add two short poles and the ground pegs, and you’re away. It folds down (again, similar to the Forza Flash, pop-up tent style) and comes with a cool circular bag for storage.
The small goal has five holes to try and score through, each gaining you various points. My nine-year-old spent hours honing their shooting skills and, although it’s actually harder than it looks, he’d like it on record that he scored through the ‘100 points’ hole numerous times.
The goal comes with a ball and pump and, while neither were that great quality, we did find the small, lightweight ball included worked really well with the Opti goal. When my tester used some of his other footballs for target practise, the rather flimsy goal struggled a bit with their weight, often bending backwards due to the force.
While this isn’t exactly a replacement for a standard football goal, it’s a fun choice for competitive kids who love practising their skills, and would make a great birthday gift.
Key specifications
Buy now £14.4, Argos.co.uk
What is the best football goal for kids?
The Forza goal is the best kids’ football we tested. It’s the perfect permanent garden goal, designed to stand up to regular use and unpredictable weather, plus it’s easy to set up and lightweight enough to move around the garden if you need, all at a great price. If you want something larger, then the Forza proflex goal is great for both kids and teens.
How I tested the best football goals for kids
My four testers didn’t need much convincing to put these best goals for kids to the test. For over a month we tested out a range of football goals, putting them through their paces with countless penalty shoot-outs and garden matches, to see which were worth recommending. To help make our final selection we considered how easy each goal was to put together (and take down), as well as how well they stood up to endless balls being blasted their way and whether they offered value for money. You can read about my testing criteria in more detail below:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Sarah Dawson is a writer specialising in recommending the best parenting buys and products for kids, having tested everything from walkie talkies to kids’ smartwatches. To bring you her verdict on her top picks, Sarah recruits younger testers who put products through their paces during hands-on testing.
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