History of the TLD

.football is a generic top level domain (gTLD) created under ICANN’s New gTLD Program. It was delegated into the Domain Name System in 2015 and made available for public registration following standard launch phases including sunrise and general availability. The extension was developed to provide a dedicated namespace for football‑related entities and interests within the global Internet domain space.

Main Use and Industry Position

.football is used by football organisations, clubs, leagues, players, fans, media outlets, bloggers, coaches, and businesses connected with the sport of football. The extension communicates a direct association with the sport, helping users immediately recognise the nature of the content and purpose of a website.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with general TLDs such as .com or .net, .football offers thematic specificity that is ideal for sport‑focused entities. It differs from other sport‑related TLDs such as .sport or .soccer by using the full word “football,” which can appeal globally where that term is understood. It is more niche than broad generic extensions yet provides clearer signaling to audiences interested in football content than generic names.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Clearly identifies a website as focused on football

• Supports branding for teams, leagues, media, players, and fan communities

• Open registration with no special restrictions

Cons

• Less universal recognition than long‑established extensions like .com

• May feel too specific for broader sports businesses or general content

• Pricing can be higher than some generic TLDs depending on registrar

Registration Criteria

Registration of .football domains is open to anyone worldwide without special geographic or organisational restrictions. Domains must meet standard DNS naming rules including character and length requirements and can be registered on a first‑come, first‑served basis.

Summary

.football is a thematic generic top level domain launched in 2015 as part of ICANN’s expansion of the domain name space. It is managed by Binky Moon, LLC and is intended for entities and individuals associated with the sport of football. The extension enables clear, sport‑specific branding and is available to register globally with no special eligibility restrictions.