Football Age Group Calculator 2026/27

How FA age groups work

Youth football in England uses the same cut-off as schools. The FA sets age groups by a player's age on 31 August before the season. An "Under 9" team is for players who were 8 on that date, so every player in a U9 squad was born in the same school year.

The age group doesn't change mid-season. A player who has a birthday in October is still in the same age group until the next season starts, when the whole squad moves up together.

That is why a player's date of birth matters so much at trials, Talent ID events and registration. Two players born a few days apart either side of 31 August are a full age group apart.

2026/27 age groups by date of birth

Use this table to find a player's age group for the 2026/27 season. The match format column shows the FA's Future Fit formats, which are the default from 2026/27.

Leagues and county FAs can set their own rules on which formats are used and when players can move between leagues, so always check the rules of the competition you are in.

Birth quarters and the relative age effect

Scouts and academy staff often look at a player's birth quarter, which is where the birthday falls in the school year:

• Q1: September to November, the oldest in the year group
• Q2: December to February
• Q3: March to May
• Q4: June to August, the youngest in the year group

A player born in September can be almost a full year older than a team-mate born the following August. At U9 that is a big gap in size, speed and coordination. Academies have long recruited more Q1 players than Q4 players, which is known as the relative age effect.

Knowing the birth quarter helps you judge a player fairly. A Q4 player who holds their own against older team-mates may have more potential than the numbers suggest.

Playing up an age group

Players can usually play up into an older age group, and many clubs move their best young players up to challenge them. Girls playing in mixed football may be allowed to play a year down in some competitions.

The exact rules depend on the league and county FA, including limits on the youngest mini-soccer ages, so check before registering a player in a different age group.

International age groups are different

FIFA and UEFA youth competitions use the calendar year of birth, with a 1 January cut-off, not the English school year. A player can be U15 in English youth football and in a different age group for international football in the same season. That matters when you are tracking players for national team call-ups.

Frequently asked questions

What age group is my child in for football?

Work out their age on 31 August before the season starts. For 2026/27, a child who is 8 on 31 August 2026 plays U9, and a child who is 11 plays U12. The age group matches their school year: U9 is Year 4.

When does a player move up an age group?

At the start of each new season. The age group is fixed for the whole season by the player's age on 31 August, so a birthday during the season doesn't change it.

Can a child play up an age group?

Usually yes. Most competitions let players play in an older age group, but the rules vary by league and county FA, especially in mini-soccer, so check before registering them.

What is a birth quarter in football?

It is where a player's birthday falls in the school year. Q1 is September to November (the oldest), Q2 December to February, Q3 March to May and Q4 June to August (the youngest).

How are international youth age groups worked out?

FIFA and UEFA youth competitions use the calendar year of birth, with a 1 January cut-off, so a player's international age group can differ from their English age group.