What is Bubble Football? We Explain All Here

Most of us know about this wild and exciting sport that nobody can get enough of, but where did it come from?

From its origins as a fun segment on a Norwegian television show to the present day, bubble football is a wonderfully cooky sport that has taken the world by storm. However, if you’ve never heard of it before, then join us as we dive into what exactly bubble football is, how its played and its why it’s so popular across the globe.

What Actually is Bubble Football?

To sum it up, bubble football is just like a regular game of football, except for the fact that players are wrapped up in gigantic inflatable bubble suits for the duration of the match! Like football, this game is played by two teams who compete to see who can score the most goals. However, instead of playing for 90 minutes, bubble football matches only last for 10 minutes, played between two 5-minute halves.

To give you a clearer picture, here's an example of what a typical game of bubble football looks like:

Why is it Called Bubble Football?

To put it simply, bubble football takes its name from the fact that this sport is almost a direct off-shoot from regular football. The “bubble” part of the name refers to the fact that players must wear inflatable zorb suits in order to take part. Other names for this sport include zorb football, bubble footy and bubble soccer.

How to Play Bubble Football?

What are the Rules of Bubble Football?

The rules for playing bubble football are not too dissimilar to the rules of football. At the start of the game, the ball will be placed in the centre of the pitch, with members of each team spaced out evenly in their respective halves. When the referee blows the whistle, the two closest players from both teams go head-to-head to get the ball to their teammates. However, there are a few elements that players will need to keep in mind and remember to avoid being penalised!

How much does Bubble Football Cost?

Being experts in hosting bubble football matches, we can arrange a fantastic game of bubble football for you and the lads for just £27 per person in various cities across the UK, making this activity affordable and accessible to both new and existing players. What’s best is that this price includes everything you could possibly need on the day including pitch hire, equipment and a referee to manage the game.

Why is Bubble Football also called Bubble Soccer and Zorb Football?

Bubble football is known by many names across the globe, but two of the common names for the sport that you will also hear is “bubble soccer” and “zorb football”. The first is mainly used in countries that refer to football as soccer, such as Canada and the United States. “Zorb Football” is another common name for the sport and refers to the large Zorb balls that players are encased in during the match.

Is there a Bubble Football League?

Unfortunately, as of yet there are no officially organised bubble football leagues in operation. However, this could definitely change in the future as this sport continues to grow in popularity across the globe.

Is there a Bubble Football World Cup?

In the past, there has only been one attempt to host a Bubble Football World Cup. This took place in the summer of 2018 in London with a variety of international teams taking part. At the tournament, countries that took part included the likes of Brazil, Germany, Ireland and South Africa to name a few. However, the tournament did not continue after 2018, but we think that this eclectic sport always has the potential to make a barnstorming return some time in the future.