8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Football
11 May 2026 • 8:04 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

If you’ve got a football mad child, having your own goal at home makes it easy for them to enjoy the beautiful game whenever they fancy. The best football goals for kids are easy to assemble and designed to withstand whatever your little football fan can kick its way, literally.

A great quality football goal instantly elevates at-home kickabouts. They’re perfect for helping kids hone their footballing skills as well as acting as your first line of defence against wayward footballs landing in the neighbour’s garden.

Whether you’ve got a small garden or a huge lawn at home, there are plenty of football goal options to suit your outdoor space, as well as your budget. From large weather-proof goals designed to stay up year-round, to smaller, lightweight goals that can be assembled and packed away in minutes, we’ve rounded up the very best buys out there to suit kids of all ages and abilities.

My football-loving testers – ranging in age from 6 to 10, channelled their inner Salah to help us put together this selection of kid-friendly garden goals. Looking at ease of assembly, sturdiness, overall quality, durability and portability, these are the ones that came out on top.

I tested goals of all different sizes (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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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 large goal – Progoal match football goal : £87.95, Thesoccerstore.co.uk
  • Best for little kids – Forza flash goal: £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for small gardens – Amazon basics portable pop up soccer goal: £20.99, Amazon.co.uk

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Forza 8x6 football goal post

Rating: 5/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: football goal for kids overall

Size: 8ft x 6ft (2.4m x 1.8m)

Weight: 11kg

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).

This sturdy option is built to last (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £78.99, Amazon.co.uk

Opti pro metal goal

Rating: 4/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: budget football goal

Size: 7ft x 5ft (2.1m x 1.5m)

Weight: 7.7kg

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.

This works well in small gardens (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £55, Argos.co.uk

Progoal match football goal

Rating: 5/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: large football goal for kids

Size: 12ft x 6ft (3.6m x 1.8m)

Weight: 11kg

Why we love it

  • Weather-resistant
  • Highly durable
  • Perfect for a ‘match feel’

Take note

  • Takes up a lot of space
  • Adding the net is a little fiddly

If you’ve got the space, this excellent 12ft x 6ft goal is the coolest garden upgrade for young footie fans. The larger size definitely gives a more realistic match experience and my nine- and 10-year-old testers loved the wide frame, which really stretched their goalie skills to the max. I also liked how many more footballs it saved from going over the garden hedge.

The large size makes for a great experience (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

Similar to the Forza above, the Progoal has a UPVC frame which is simple to lock together, although due to the size it was a two-person job to slot the crossbar in place. It’s all straightforward and, again like the Forza, the only fiddly bit is attaching the net.

Design-wise, I liked the extended bottom runback, which helped the goal feel particularly sturdy, especially with the ground anchor in place, and the reinforced corners of the net, which I feel will both help with the longevity of use. For the price, I think the Progoal is a fantastic investment and would make a great-looking and hard-working addition to the garden.

Buy now £87.95, Thesoccerstore.co.uk

Forza flash goal

Rating: 4.5/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: first football goal for little kids

Size: 3ft x 2.2ft (95cm x 70cm)

Weight: 1kg

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.

This is a good quality goal just shrunk down (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £14.99, Amazon.co.uk

Amazon basics portable pop up soccer goal

Rating: 4/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: kids’ football goal for small gardens

Size: 1.82m x 1.21m (6ft x 4ft)

Weight: 1.9kg

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.

Pack this up for trips to the park (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £20.99, Amazon.co.uk

Forza proflex pop up football goal

Rating: 4.5/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Size: 3m x 2m (10ft x 6.5ft)

Weight: 10.9kg

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.

I was impressed by its simple assembly (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £87.99, Forza.com

Opti 2 in 1 pop up target training football goal

Rating: 4/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: football goal for target practise

Size: 3.5ft x 3ft (1m x 0.7m)

Weight: 1kg

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.

This makes becoming more precise a fun game (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £13.5, Argos.co.uk

Kipsta football goal kage

Rating: 4/5

Image from: 8 best football goals that are sure to score you some points with the kids

Best: kids’ football goal for the beach

Size: 95cm x 70cm (3ft x 2.2ft)

Weight: 2.5kg

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).

This is a great option for young kids (Sarah Dawson/The Independent)

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.

Buy now £27.99, Decathlon.co.uk

What is the best football goal for kids?

The Forza goal is a clear best buy for me. 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 have the space and want a football goal that will last well into the teenage years, I think the Progoal is another excellent option, worth every penny.

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’ bikes. 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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