First game with strangers? Here's what to expect

Turning up to play football with people you have never met can feel like a big step. It should not. Plenty of players on PitchUp joined their first game alone, and many now play with the same faces every week. This guide covers everything that happens from the moment you book to the final whistle, so you know exactly what to expect.

Pick the right game

5v5 and 6v6 are played on smaller pitches, so you get more touches and the game is quick. 11v11 is a full-size match with more space, real positions and a lot more running. If you have not played for a while, 6v6 is the easiest place to start: you are always involved, but there is enough room to catch your breath.

Every match in the app shows the time, format, surface, price, host and who has already joined, so you know what you are walking into before you book. Games in Budapest usually cost 2,000 to 3,000 Ft a spot. Popular venues include BME Sporttelep in Újbuda, Városliget Mini Arena near the City Park and Panoráma Sportközpont in the II. district.

Booking and paying

Tap a match, check the squad and reserve your spot. For now you pay the host in cash at the venue, so bring the exact amount if you can. Card payments and the PitchUp Wallet are coming soon. If the game is full, join the waitlist: when someone cancels, the next player gets the spot.

What to bring

• Boots for the surface: turf shoes or short studs for artificial turf, firm-ground studs for grass. Check the surface on the match page.
• Shin pads. Most games are friendly, but tackles happen.
• Water, especially for summer evening games.
• A light and a dark top, in case there are no bibs. Hosts often split teams by colour.
• Cash for the host.

Arrive ten minutes early

You get a reminder before kick-off. Arrive about ten minutes early to find the pitch, say hello to the host and warm up. Pitches are booked by the hour, so games start on time and late arrivals lose playing time.

The host is your first point of contact. Introduce yourself, pay, and ask which team you are on. If you are nervous, tell them it is your first game: hosts are used to new players and will make sure you are looked after.

During the game

• Pass to the new player. Everyone was new once, and you will be the new player too.
• Call your own fouls and outs. There is usually no referee, so honesty keeps the game flowing.
• Take turns in goal. Rotating keeps it fair and fun for everyone.
• Keep tackles on your feet, especially on turf, where slide tackles burn skin.
• Talk. Calling for the ball and saying your teammates' names is the quickest way to feel part of the team.

After the final whistle

Vote for the MVP in the app. Votes, goals and games feed your player rating, and your player card levels up through four tiers, from Bronze to Legend, as you play. Then check the host's next game: many hosts run the same slot every week, and booking it again is how you end up with a regular squad.

If you cannot make it

Cancel as early as you can from My bookings, so someone on the waitlist gets your spot. With 24 hours' notice or more you get a full refund, between 6 and 24 hours you get 50%, and with less than 6 hours there is no refund. If the host cancels the game, you always get a full refund.

Common first-game questions

Do I need to be good?

No. Games are mixed level, from people who have not played since school to regulars. The match page shows who has joined, so you can pick a game that feels right.

Can I bring a friend?

Yes. Each of you books your own spot. If the game has two spots left, book together so you both get in.

What if I do not speak Hungarian?

That is fine. Many games mix locals, students and expats, and English is common on the pitch.