A kick-off is live when the stationary ball is kicked and clearly moves.

The ruleset and effective date used here

This page applies The International Football Association Board (IFAB), Laws of the Game 2026/27, chiefly Law 8.1, “Kick-off.” That edition took effect on 1 July 2026. A competition that began before that date could introduce the changes earlier or delay them until no later than the start of its next competition.

The 2026/27 edition did not change the words of the kick-off procedure itself. It did clarify in Law 5 that advantage may be applied after a restart has been taken incorrectly and the ball is in play. That clarification matters when deciding between play on and a retake.

This is the IFAB association-football baseline. It does not cover futsal, beach soccer, rugby, or American football. Competition rules determine whether extra time is played and which IFAB edition applies during a season.

Four match stages can begin with a kick-off

IFAB Law 8.1 requires a kick-off:

• at the start of the first half;
• at the start of the second half;
• at the start of each half of extra time, if the competition uses extra time; and
• after a goal, when the team that conceded takes the restart.

A kick-off is not the restart for a routine foul, injury stoppage or ball out of play. Those situations use the restart prescribed by the relevant Law.

Winning the toss gives a choice, not an automatic kick-off

Before the match, the referee tosses a coin. The winner chooses either the goal to attack in the first half or to take the opening kick-off. The opponents receive the other choice. The team that chose its first-half attacking direction takes the second-half kick-off, and the teams change ends.

If extra time is required, IFAB's Law 8 FAQ confirms that the referee conducts a new toss before extra time. The same choice procedure determines the end and the team taking the first extra-time kick-off.

The kicker is the one exception to the own-half rule

For every kick-off, all players except the kicker must be in their own half. IFAB expressly confirms that the kicker may stand in the opponents' half, which is useful when kicking the ball backward. Opponents must remain at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play.

The centre circle marks that distance for the opponents; it is not a forbidden area for the kicker's teammates. A teammate may stand inside the team's half of the circle. The referee cannot allow a kick-off while players from the scoring team are still off the field celebrating, because the position requirement applies to every non-kicker.

No forward movement or minimum distance is required

Law 8.1 gives four relevant steps: the ball is stationary on the centre mark, the referee signals, the ball is kicked, and it clearly moves. Only then is it in play and may every player leave the starting position.

The ball does not have to travel forward or leave the centre circle. A short sideways or backward kick is legal if the movement is clear. Merely putting a foot on top of the ball without clear movement does not make it live.

A goal can be scored with the first kick

Law 8.1 permits a goal directly against the opponents from a kick-off; no second player needs to touch the ball. If the ball instead enters the kicker's own goal directly, no own goal is awarded. The opponents receive a corner kick.

“Directly” matters. Once another player touches the ball, the ordinary goal, offside and offence rules apply to the continuing play.

The kicker must wait for any other player to touch the ball

If the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, Law 8.1 awards the opponents an indirect free kick from the place of the second touch, subject to the normal free-kick location rules. If that second contact is a handball offence, the restart is a direct free kick instead.

The intervening touch may be by a teammate or an opponent. A touch of a goalpost, crossbar or match official is not a touch by another player, so it does not release the kicker from the restriction.

Procedure offences do not always stop play in 2026/27

Law 8.1 says that any kick-off procedure offence other than the kicker's second touch results in a retake. However, IFAB Law 5 for 2026/27 expressly allows the referee to play advantage when a restart was taken incorrectly, the ball is in play and the opposing team will benefit. If the expected advantage does not appear at that time or within a few seconds, the referee orders the retake.

This cannot apply before there is a live ball. If the ball was not kicked and clearly moved, the kick-off has not put it in play and the referee orders the procedure to be completed correctly.

Misconduct does not change the scheduled restart

Law 8's introduction says that an offence occurring while the ball is out of play does not change how play restarts. If a player commits misconduct after a goal but before the kick-off, the referee deals with any required warning, caution or sending-off under Law 12 and then retains the kick-off. A direct free kick cannot replace it merely because the misconduct would have been a free-kick offence during play.

The kick-off has no special offside exemption

At the instant of the kick-off, every teammate other than the kicker must be in their own half, so those teammates cannot be in an offside position under IFAB Law 11. The kicker cannot be offside from their own touch.

Unlike a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick, a kick-off is not listed in Law 11.3 as a restart from which receiving the ball carries a special offside exemption. Once another teammate plays or touches the live ball, offside is judged normally at that later touch.

The restart waits until the awarded goal process is complete

After a goal is awarded, the team that conceded takes the kick-off. The referee waits for the players to satisfy Law 8 and for any authorised substitution or other required process to finish before signalling.

In a competition using VAR, goal/no-goal is a reviewable category. Any check or review must be resolved before the kick-off because Law 5 generally prevents the referee from changing a restart decision after play has restarted. VAR is a competition tool, not a different kick-off procedure.

The first touch goes backward

Situation: the kicker stands just inside the opponents' half and passes backward to a teammate after the referee's signal.

IFAB 2026/27 ruling: play on. Law 8 allows the kicker to be the only player outside their own half and does not require the ball to travel forward. The decisive facts are that the ball was stationary on the centre mark and was kicked and clearly moved.

An opponent crosses early and the kick scores

Situation: a defender moves into the kicking team's half before the ball is live. The kick then enters the defender's goal directly.

IFAB 2026/27 ruling: award the goal. The defender committed a procedure offence, but the non-offending kicking team gained the best possible advantage. This is the result in IFAB's Law 8 FAQ and is consistent with the amended Law 5 advantage wording.

A teammate crosses early but the opponents win the ball

Situation: a teammate of the kicker is already over the halfway line when the kick is taken, but the ball is live and an opponent collects it with space to attack.

IFAB 2026/27 ruling: the referee may allow play to continue if the opposing team will benefit. If that anticipated benefit does not materialise immediately or within a few seconds, order the kick-off retaken. The 2026/27 Law 5 clarification makes the opponent's advantage, not the defect alone, decisive.

The ball rebounds off the kicker's planted foot

Situation: the kicker sends the ball forward; before anyone else touches it, the moving ball strikes the kicker's other foot.

IFAB 2026/27 ruling: indirect free kick to the opponents where that second touch occurred. It remains a second touch even if the rebound was unintended; Law 8 provides a different sanction only when the second contact is a handball offence.

How to decide a disputed kick-off

1. Name the ruleset. Confirm that IFAB 2026/27 applies to the competition.
2. Identify the trigger and team. Start of a half, start of an extra-time half, or restart by the team that conceded.
3. Check the positions. Every non-kicker in their own half; opponents also 9.15 m away.
4. Check the ball and signal. Stationary on the centre mark and referee ready.
5. Find the live moment. The ball must be kicked and clearly move; direction and distance are irrelevant.
6. Classify any defect. A second touch has its own free-kick sanction. Another procedure offence normally means a retake.
7. Test advantage. If an incorrect restart produced a live ball and the opponents benefit, Law 5 may permit play to continue.
8. Keep misconduct separate. An offence while the ball was out of play does not replace the kick-off.

Claims the IFAB rule does not support

• “The ball must go forward.” It may move in any direction.
• “Two attackers must stand over the ball.” One kicker is enough.
• “Nobody may stand inside the centre circle.” The 9.15 m restriction applies to opponents; teammates must satisfy the own-half rule.
• “The kicker must stay in their own half.” Law 8 makes the kicker the exception.
• “Every positioning error forces a retake.” Law 5 can allow advantage after an incorrect restart once the ball is in play.
• “A direct kick-off goal is illegal.” It is expressly permitted against the opponents.

Governing-body sources and effective version

• The IFAB — Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 8.1 “Kick-off” and official FAQs
• The IFAB — Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5: advantage and decision finality
• The IFAB — Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 11.1–11.3 “Offside”
• The IFAB — Law changes 2026/27: Law 5 restart-advantage clarification
• The IFAB — Circular no. 32 (2026), effective-date and transition notice

Checked against the IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27 and Circular no. 32, effective 1 July 2026. Competitions already under way on that date could defer the edition until their next competition; competition rules also decide whether extra time is used. No domestic competition variation is presented as universal here.