As the world’s most popular sport, could football soon expand to another planet?
This is precisely what scientists are contemplating. They believe that the beautiful game could be played on the Moon as early as 2035, although it may unfold quite differently than a match on Earth.
Experts at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) based in the UK have devised a bold plan to host football matches on the Moon. According to their proposal, matches would last 90 minutes, but traditional uniforms would no longer be suitable.
Football matches on the Moon may take place in just 15 years. (Illustration: IET)
The experts envision that the extraterrestrial tournament will be divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each, with a 20-minute break between each quarter for players to rest. Each team would consist of only five members.
The traditional sportswear and cleats would be replaced by oversized astronaut suits, featuring built-in cooling systems.
Moreover, referees would resemble technology similar to VAR rather than traditional humans, as they would appear on the field in three-dimensional form.
The IET believes that matches on the Moon should be cut to less than half the time to ensure player safety in an entirely foreign environment.
The 20-minute break would allow teams to recharge, recover, and even make repairs to their equipment—crucial not just for winning but for survival on the lunar surface.
Equipment such as oxygen tanks, communication systems, and temperature regulation tools would be integrated into the astronaut suits. They would be a scaled-down version of the suits worn by Apollo astronauts, designed to facilitate easier movement on the pitch.
According to the IET’s vision, matches would take place at noon to maximize visibility. The size of the football field would need to be reduced to 1/8 of the usual dimensions.
The touchlines could be marked with a black-and-white polymer, while nets, barriers, and canopies would need to be erected to prevent the ball from floating away.
Unlike on Earth, the balls would not be inflated with air due to the Moon’s pressure differential, which would certainly cause them to burst.
Instead, experts suggest they would feature a next-generation Airgel core to provide familiar bounce, and would be nearly double the size for better visibility.
To support this plan, the IET is calling for children across the UK aged 4 to 13 to design the first official football kit for the lunar tournament.
