Whether they’re a dedicated team supporter, a Sunday morning five-a-sider or aspiring to be a future England captain, football-themed gifts always score well with fans of the beautiful game.
While gifts such as football boots and training gear will always be a winner, it can be tricky to find the right size and brand without ruining the surprise. To tackle this challenge, we’ve thought outside the box and done some extra time to bring you the best gifts for football fans.
Whether you’re looking for a gift for your toddler’s first kickabout, educational gifts to help build their knowledge or equipment to help them master their technique, here are our tried and tested picks of unique football gifts for kids, with options for all ages and budgets.
Best football gifts for kids at a glance:
Forza 8 x 6” Football Goal Post
Best for: Overall
If they don’t already have a goal for their back garden, this robust, all-weather Forza goal is sure to be a hit with football fans of all ages.
A durable design that couldn't be easier to assemble, this 8 x 6” football goal post comes complete with a net, instantly turning their casual kick around in the garden to a competitive five-a-side or penalty shoot-out with friends.
We love the smart locking system that safely secures the goal to the ground, however, if grown-ups are playing too, we recommend adding some additional sandbags or weights to prevent it from tipping.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £80.00, Net World Sports
Adrenalyn XL Premier League Trading Cards Starter Pack
Best for: Budget-friendly
For a more budget-friendly choice, this officially licensed Premier League is a great way to celebrate the new football season.
The Panini Premier League Adrenalyn XL Official Trading Card Starter Pack includes a game board, 3 trading card packets (24 trading cards), 1 Limited Edition card and 1 Golden Baller card, with a handy ring binder to display with pride.
As with any collectable product, there is of course the risk of duplicates, however, children will love trading with friends to try and complete their collection. Will they be lucky enough to reveal a signature or the coveted Invincible Card? You won’t need to wait long to find out.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £9.00, Argos
Smart Ball Counter Ball
Best for: Kickups/Keepy uppies
Fancy a keepy-uppy challenge? The Smart Ball Counter Ball is a great football gift for competitive kids, who will love to challenge friends and family to beat their highest score while mastering their technique.
Whether you use your knee, feet, head or shoulders, the aim of the game is simple - keep the ball off the ground for as long as possible, while the counter tracks your progress.
A striking blue and white ball with fun lights and sounds, we loved how the Smart Ball counts right up to 100, with spoken words of encouragement to spur them on at key milestones.
The downside? This ball isn’t designed to be used for actual matches, as kicking it against walls or hard surfaces could damage the counting mechanism.
Pros
Cons
Buy now, Amazon
Smart Ball Soccer Bot
Best for: Mastering dribbling skills
Fancy putting their dribbling skills to the test? Meet the Smart Ball Soccer Bot, a clever indoor training toy that children can play solo or use buddied up with their friends.
While you need a relatively large space to play, the Soccer Bot is suitable for all floor types (although we found it worked best on wooden floors).
We loved keeping the ball moving while constantly avoiding the bot, causing our 8-year-old tester to repeatedly run and pass from one foot to the other. With a counter to keep track of their performance, kids can progress between speed levels as their confidence grows.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £50.00, Amazon
Forza Football Goal Target Sheets
Best for: Penalty shoot-out practice
If they’ve already got a goal in their garden, these Forza Football Goal Target Sheets make a great addition. A fun way to improve their shooting technique and goal-scoring ability, these nets can be quickly secured to the goal using bungee ties, with five targets to aim for and master.
The target nets come in a choice of nine sizes to match your goal, so check the dimensions carefully before you buy. Once these weatherproof targets are up, you can leave them out all year round, encouraging kids to spend time outdoors, whatever the weather.
Pro
Cons
Buy now £20.00, Net World Sports
RapidFire Flash Pop-Up Football Rebounder
Best for: Shooting practice
While playing with friends is great fun, children don’t always have the luxury of a five-a-side team in their back garden, especially if they’re an only child.
Thanks to the RapidFire Flash Pop-Up Football Rebounder, children can practice their shooting, passing and scoring techniques, improving their overall ball control and first touch ready for their next important match.
With a handy carry bag included, this portable and durable rebounder is quick and easy to assemble (and pack away after use). We love how the angled net provides the perfect amount of tension, with the ball bouncing straight back to them ready for their next shot.
Buy now £40.00, Net World Sports
Jellycat Amusable Football Bag Charm
Best for: Kit bag accessory
Jellycat toys are always popular with kids, with their range of amuseable football characters sure to raise a smile from sports fans.
This Jellycat Football Bag Charm makes a great addition to a football fan’s kitbag, quickly clipping onto the zip or strap. With a cute smile and outstretched arms, it can help kids instantly recognise their kit - ensuring they don’t leave anything behind on match days.
It may get a little grubby if it makes contact with muddy boots and is sponge-clean only, so you may want to leave him with spectators on wet winter days.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £25.00, John Lewis
Football Superstars books
Best for: Bedtime reading
If you’re buying a gift for an avid team supporter or kids who simply want to learn more about the game, these Football Superstars books are a great place to start.
These engaging illustrated biographies can introduce children to the most talented football players across the globe, covering each player’s early life, career and performance statistics.
From Bellingham to Messi and Saka as well as Lionesses Bronze and Kerr, we love how these fun facts and anecdotes can inspire younger players, teaching them that hard work and determination can really pay off.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £7.00, Amazon
Yoto Ultimate Football Heroes
Best for: Engaging audio
A great way to minimise screen time while they learn more about their favourite sport, the Yoto Ultimate Football Heroes cards are biographies in audio format. If you don’t already have a Yoto Player, you can listen via the Yoto App.
We loved learning about the lives of some of the best footballers in the world (although we’d have loved to have seen a Lioness feature too).
With fun sound effects that make you feel right in the thick of the action, these fast-paced audiobooks make a great football gift for kids aged 6+.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £25.00, Yoto
World Football Stars Top 200 Top Trumps: Collector’s Edition
Best for: Competitive playtime
Top Trumps are great fun for competitive players, battling it out against friends or family to become the Top Trump. In this impressive six-pack collectors’ edition, children will love outsmarting their opponents, collecting all the cards while learning impressive facts and figures about their favourite players.
With 200 players including international legends from men’s and women’s football, we love the included case that kids can use to display their collection with pride. The set even includes a TTXI Team sheet, perfect for planning their fantasy dream team.
For a more affordable alternative, you can buy the included packs 1-6 individually for around £8 each.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £32.00, Top Trumps
Foooty - Create Your Own Football
Best for: Travel
For kids who want to play football wherever they go, this carry-along Foooty is ideal - small enough to fit inside their pocket!
Effectively a flat-packed football, this compact box includes ten pieces which slot together to create a lightweight yet durable 15cm football.
While some practice may be needed initially, we quickly mastered the technique, slotting the pieces together quickly when needed. A great way to allow mini-football fans to practice their kickups and passes, even when they’re away from home.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £17.00, Wicked Uncle
Football Flick Hero! Mini Skills Trainer
Best for: Juniors
Recommended for ages 3-7 years, this 2-in-1 skills trainer makes a great introduction to the game for younger children. Easy to assemble, it can quickly switch between a rebounder and mini goal, allowing children to develop their motor and coordination skills as they practice kicking, shooting and passing.
Children may want to size up to a larger goal as their confidence grows, however, we love the curved ramp design of this rebounder, instantly flicking the ball back for their next attempt. The set even includes a football, training bib and scorecard, so kids can rope in the parents to enthusiastically track their performance.
We prefer to keep this as a screen-free activity for younger children, but kids will also enjoy the fun target challenges included with the free Football Flick mobile game.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £55.00, Very
Historic Newspapers Football History Book
Best for: Older children
For older children or teens who have been following their team for some time, these football history books make a really thoughtful gift.
With over 60 teams to choose from, these large bound books feature iconic headlines from the team's history, showcasing unforgettable moments from the greatest games of all time.
With over 130 pages, we loved reading The Mirror headlines from as early as 1905 (as well as laughing at some of the adverts nestled amongst the text). To make it extra special, you can even have the recipient’s name embossed onto the cover, or send for a personalised sticker to secure inside.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £50.00, Historic Newspapers
Delta Subbuteo Football
Best for: Iconic brands
They may already have a football, but trust me, they won’t have a football like this. One of only 300 balls produced by Mitre in this exciting limited edition collab, this size 5 football is inspired by the balls of the 80s, with a subtle nod to the Subbuteo brand.
Each purchase comes with a mini Subbuteo ball (to be used with the tabletop game) making this a unique and impressive gift for teens and older kids.
It’s worth mentioning that this ball comes partially inflated, so you will need to have your pump to hand before they can play.
Pros
Cons
Buy now £45.00, Mitre
Verdict
While there’s no one best football gift for kids, the Forza 8 x 6” is a great addition to a child’s back garden, with a robust and durable design that couldn’t be easier to assemble.
If they already have a goal, take your pick from our other recommended football gifts that allow children to play, learn and spend time in the great outdoors - a result we can all be pleased with!
