How to play football with strangers (and enjoy it)

Most PitchUp games are full of people who arrived on their own. Playing with strangers is not a compromise: it is the point. It is how a city full of people becomes a squad, and how a new arrival ends up with a weekly game and a group to go for a drink with afterwards.

Why playing with strangers works

Everyone on the pitch has the same goal: a good game. You do not need small talk to get going, because you have something to do together from the first minute. Teams are mixed on the day, so nobody is the outsider for long, and by half-time you know who likes to dribble and who never passes.

Pickup football also takes the organising off your hands. You do not need to find nine friends who are free on the same evening. A host books the pitch, the app fills the spots, and you just turn up.

Before you go

• Pick a game near home or work, so getting there is easy enough to repeat every week.
• Check the match page for the format, surface, price and who has already joined.
• Read the host notes about the entrance, parking and changing rooms.
• Bring the basics: boots for the surface, a light and a dark shirt, water and cash for the host.

How to fit in fast

• Say your name early. A quick hello at the pitch goes a long way, and it makes it easy for others to call for your pass.
• Play simple. Short passes and talking on the ball make you the teammate people remember.
• Be fair. There is usually no referee, so call your own fouls and outs and keep tackles on your feet.
• Take your turn in goal. Offering to go in first is a quick way to win people over.
• Stay positive. Mixed-level games work when nobody shouts at the weakest player.

What if the level is different from mine?

Pickup games are mixed level, so you will meet people better and worse than you. If you are stronger than most, use it to set up others rather than to score every goal. If you are rusty, play the simple pass and stay in position. Every match shows the format and squad, so after a game or two you will know which hosts and slots suit you.

From strangers to teammates

After the game, vote for the MVP and check who else is joining the host's next match. Play the same slot a few weeks in a row and you will have a regular team. Many friendships start in the minutes after the final whistle, so do not rush off.

Common questions

Is it safe to play with people I do not know?

Games are run by hosts who are rated by players, and the app has community rules, a report button and a moderation team that reviews reports, aiming to do so within 24 hours.

Can women join?

Yes. PitchUp games are open to everyone, and the match page shows who has joined before you book.