In short
- The easiest football Halloween costume is a zombie footballer: an old kit, a bit of face paint and some fake mud.
- Referees, goalkeepers and “their favourite player” all work too, and most use clothes you already own.
- Keep the scary part in the make-up, not a mask, so they can see where they’re going.
- Check the label on any shop-bought costume and keep costumes well away from candles.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means a full day of costumes for a lot of football-mad kids. A football Halloween costume is a brilliant choice because it starts with something they already love wearing.
You don’t need to buy much. Most of the ideas below begin with an old shirt, a pair of shorts and the football socks at the bottom of the wash basket.
What is the best football Halloween costume for kids?
The best football Halloween costume for kids is a zombie footballer. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it lets a child wear their club’s colours while still looking properly spooky.
It also works for almost any age. A 5-year-old can be a friendly, slightly muddy zombie. A 10-year-old will want torn socks, grey skin and as much fake blood as you’ll allow.
Best of all, it suits a costume party, a trick-or-treat walk and a Halloween training session equally well.
How do you make a zombie football player costume?
You make a zombie football player costume by “ageing” an old kit, then adding grey face paint and a little fake mud. The whole thing takes about half an hour.
What you need:
- An old football shirt and shorts (one you don’t mind ruining)
- Long football socks, ideally a pair with holes already
- Grey, white and black face paint
- Brown face paint or a little cocoa powder mixed with water for “mud”
- Old trainers or boots
Here’s how to put the DIY zombie football player costume together:
- Rough up the kit. Snip a few small tears along the hems and rub the shirt with a damp teabag for a faded, grubby look. Let it dry.
- Add the mud. Dab brown paint on the knees, shorts and socks, as if they’ve just been dragged out of a very wet penalty area.
- Paint the face. A grey or pale base, dark circles under the eyes and some shading in the cheeks does the job.
- Finish with the walk. Arms out, one leg dragging. Kids pick this part up instantly.
If it’s a club shirt they love, use an old one from a previous season. Nobody wants a tearful argument over a brand-new home kit.
Football Halloween costume ideas beyond the zombie
Not every child wants to be a zombie, and a football Halloween costume can be funny or clever rather than scary. A few ideas that use the same basic kit:
- The “ghost of a former player”. A white sheet over full kit, with their name and shirt number on the back.
- A vampire captain. Kit, a black cape and a captain’s armband. Add plastic fangs if they’ll keep them in.
- The mummy goalkeeper. Wrap gloves and arms in strips of white fabric, keep the goalie jersey on top.
- A skeleton striker. A black long-sleeved top with white “bones” painted on, worn under their shorts and socks.
Each one keeps the football look, so they’ll be recognised as the footballer of the group straight away.
Can a referee or goalkeeper make a good Halloween costume?
Yes, a referee or goalkeeper makes a great Halloween costume, and both are even easier than the zombie. A football referee costume is a black shirt, black shorts, a whistle and two cards cut from red and yellow paper.
To make the referee spooky, add skeleton face paint and call them “the ref from beyond the grave”. Plenty of parents will laugh at that one.
For a goalkeeper, use a bright long-sleeved top, gloves and padded shorts if they have them. A zombie keeper with muddy gloves works especially well if your child plays in goal.
What face paint works best for a football player Halloween costume?
Water-based face paint works best for a football player Halloween costume, because it goes on smoothly and washes off with soap and warm water. It’s also kinder to young skin than heavy greasepaint.
Try a small patch on the inside of the wrist a day or two before, especially for younger children. Then keep the design simple:
- Zombie: grey base, dark eyes, a few “cracks” in black.
- Skeleton: white base, black around the eyes and nose, teeth drawn across the lips.
- Club colours: two stripes on each cheek, like a supporter at a big match.
Face paint is also better than a mask. Masks can slip and block their view, which isn’t ideal in the dark on a busy street.
How do you keep a football Halloween costume safe?
You keep a football Halloween costume safe by checking the label, layering normal clothes underneath and keeping it away from flames. Homemade kit costumes are already a good start, because they’re mostly ordinary clothes.
The London Fire Brigade has warned that cheap polyester costumes can catch fire very quickly. It points to government testing where 20% of children’s costumes bought online failed flammability standards, and suggests LED candles or glowsticks instead of real candles.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue suggests a few more checks:
- Look for a label that says the garment has had additional flammability testing.
- Put everyday clothes under the costume as an extra layer.
- Teach children to stop, drop and roll if their clothes ever catch fire.
For trick-or-treating, give them a torch or a glowstick so drivers can see them.
Childrens football costumes for younger kids
For children aged 3-6, keep the childrens football costume simple and comfortable. They’ll want to run about, and a costume that pinches or itches won’t last until teatime.
A soft football top, joggers, a little face paint and a mini football to carry is plenty. You could add a paper medal round their neck so they’re “the champion of Halloween”.
If they’re scared of the scary stuff, skip the zombie. A smiling pumpkin painted on one cheek and a kit in orange and black is just as much fun.
What if they want to dress as their favourite player?
If they want to dress as their favourite player, let them. It’s the easiest football Halloween costume of all, and it’s the one they’ll feel proudest in.
Their club shirt, the right number on the back and the player’s trademark celebration practised in the mirror is all it takes. For extra Halloween spirit, add a bit of zombie make-up and they become “the undead striker”.
For a UK football Halloween costume, stick with proper football boots or trainers and shin pads. A lot of shop costumes labelled “football” are American football outfits with helmets and shoulder pads, so check the photo before you buy.
After Halloween: a gift where they’re the star
Halloween is one night of being a footballer. If you want something that keeps them being the star all year, have a look at our ideas for football-mad kids and our tips for a themed football bedroom.
Our personalised football books put your child in their club’s kit, with their own name and shirt number, scoring the goal that wins the day. Choose their name, their look, their club. We do the rest, right down to their eye colour and a message printed inside the cover. Every illustration is hand-drawn by a real artist. No AI, ever.
With Christmas and birthdays on the way, it’s worth a look. Our guide to football birthday gifts has more ideas.