Game night · Scoring rules
Foosball scoring rules
In official foosball every goal scores 1 and a game goes to 5 goals. Under International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) rules a match is the best of 5 games unless the organiser sets otherwise, and the deciding game must be won by 2, up to a maximum of 8. Casual games are often played to 10, and own goals count for the other side.
How many points is a game of foosball?
Official games go to 5 goals, the ITSF standard, and every goal is worth 1 whichever rod it comes from. At home, in the office or in a bar, many people play to 10 instead, or agree their own number. Whatever you choose, settle it before the first serve.
How many games are in a foosball match?
A match is a race to a number of games. The ITSF default is the best of 5, and an organiser can set a shorter best of 3 instead:
| Match | Games needed to win | Most games played |
|---|---|---|
| Best of 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Best of 5 (ITSF default) | 3 | 5 |
Under ITSF rules the deciding game of a match is different: it goes to 5 but must be won by 2 goals, up to a maximum of 8. From 4-4, a team needs a 2-goal lead, such as 6-4 or 7-5, and at 7-7 the next goal wins 8-7.
Here is a best of 5 match that goes the distance:
| Game | Score (Reds - Blues) | Games (Reds - Blues) | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 - 3 | 1 - 0 | First to 5 |
| 2 | 2 - 5 | 1 - 1 | |
| 3 | 5 - 4 | 2 - 1 | A 1-goal win is enough outside the deciding game |
| 4 | 4 - 5 | 2 - 2 | Two games each: the next game decides the match |
| 5 | 7 - 5 | 3 - 2 | Deciding game: 5-4 would not be enough, and Reds win it 7-5 with a 2-goal lead |
Do own goals count in foosball?
Yes. A ball that goes into a goal counts for the team attacking that goal, so an own goal is a point for your opponents. That includes a ball you knock into your own goal with an illegal spin: a spun shot never scores for the spinner, but it can score against them.
A worked example: one game to 5
| When | Team | Scoring play | Points | Score | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal 1 | Reds | Shot from the 3-bar | +1 | 1–0 | |
| Goal 2 | Blues | Shot from the 5-bar | +1 | 1–1 | |
| Goal 3 | Reds | Own goal by a Blues defender | +1 | 2–1 | An own goal counts for the other side |
| Goal 4 | Blues | Shot from the 3-bar | +1 | 2–2 | |
| Goal 5 | Reds | Long shot from the goalie | +1 | 3–2 | Any rod can score, even the goalie's |
| Goal 6 | Reds | Shot from the 3-bar | +1 | 4–2 | |
| Goal 7 | Blues | Shot that goes in and bounces back out | +1 | 4–3 | Still a goal: it entered the goal |
| Goal 8 | Reds | Shot from the 3-bar | +1 | 5–3 | Reds reach 5 and win the game 5-3 |
In a best of 3 or best of 5 match this is game 1 of the match. The scoreboard keeps one game at a time and has no First to 5, so a game to 5 is scored Open-ended and saved with End match.
How do you keep foosball score on the scoreboard?
- A casual game to 10 fits directly: set First to 10 and tap each goal. The game ends when a team scores its 10th goal.
- A game to 5 needs Open-ended: tap End match when a team reaches 5, because First to 5 is not an option.
- Matches are not grouped: each game is saved on its own, so keep the game count (such as 2 games to 1) yourself.
- The ITSF deciding game is not built in: play it Open-ended and tap End match when a team has 5 or more with a 2-goal lead (such as 5-3, 6-4 or 7-5), or reaches 8.
- Doubles is simply one side per team.
How the app handles it
The winning scores on offer are 10, 21, 25, 50 and 100, or Open-ended, so a game to 5 ends with End match. There is no win by 2, no best-of-3 or best-of-5 match and no game clock. Undo takes off the most recent goal, handy when one is disputed.
Questions
Does a goal count if the ball bounces back out in foosball?
Yes. Under ITSF rules a ball that enters the goal is a goal, even if it comes back out onto the table or leaves the table.
Is spinning allowed in foosball?
Not under ITSF rules. Spinning means turning a figure more than 360 degrees before or after it strikes the ball, and a goal scored with a spin does not count. Casual games often allow it, so agree before you play.
Who serves after a goal in foosball?
Under ITSF rules the team that was just scored on serves the next ball. The first serve of a match comes from a coin toss: the winner chooses the first serve or the table side.
Can the goalie score in foosball?
Yes. A goal can be scored from any rod, including the goalie's, and it counts 1 like any other goal.
Last reviewed September 25, 2026
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