Nothing is simpler than playing football. Even when the World Cup craze isn’t sweeping the globe, people still gather every day to watch and play “the beautiful game,” as Pelé used to say.

Not all football pitches are giant, highly-technological stadiums with sleek design and floodlights, though. Across the world, football pitches border glaciers and tower above lakes, and they are everywhere from big metropolis rooftops to islands beyond the Arctic Circle. Take a look here at the most unique and unusual.

Explore related stories

The rough surface of frozen lava after Mauna Loa volcano eruption on Big Island, Hawai'i

Astrotourism

10 essential experiences on Hawai‘i's Big Island

Dec 9, 2021 • 5 min read