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The short answer
Buy the adidas Entrada 26 Youth Shorts and buy two pairs. It is the cheapest short from a real soccer brand that still has a working drawcord, which is the only feature that matters on a slim child. Choose the Nike Park III instead if your kid hates baggy shorts, and add a compression short underneath, because none of these have a liner.
Shorts are the least interesting thing in a soccer bag and the item most likely to be bought wrong, because every listing says the same four things and none of them is the thing that decides whether a kid will wear them. This page is about the differences that are real.
What actually separates one youth soccer short from another
Not the fabric. Every short here is polyester with a brand name on the moisture treatment — Climacool on the adidas pairs, Dri-FIT on the Nike, HeatGear on the Under Armour compression short. Those treatments are real and they are also universal, which means they cannot be the basis of a choice.
Four things do separate them, and they are all checkable on a listing before you buy:
The waistband. Elastic with a drawcord, or elastic only. On a slim seven-year-old this is the difference between shorts that stay up and shorts that do not, and it is the single most important line on the spec sheet.
The cut. Regular fit and mid rise on the adidas teamwear shorts, slimmer and more tapered on the Nike. A thin kid drowns in the first; a wide-hipped kid cannot wear the second.
Venting. Mesh inserts on the lower back on the Tiro League short, side mesh inserts on the Tiro match short, a mesh-lined waistband on the Nike, none on the Entrada. This is the one place extra money buys something physical.
Whether there is a liner. There never is. See below, because it is the most common unpleasant surprise on this list.
Storelli's own shorts guide lands in the same place from a different direction, naming position and playing style, compression against regular fit, climate and material, and waistband adjustability as the things to decide on — with specific advice to look for soft elastic with a functional drawcord and avoid narrow, stiff bands.
Start here
Pick by your kid’s level
The right answer changes with the level, not just the shoe size. Find your kid’s bracket and start there.
The default for a rec player, and the one to buy two of. A real soccer short with a drawcord, at a price where owning a spare pair is a reasonable thing to do rather than an indulgence.
For the kid who refuses to wear baggy shorts. A slimmer, shorter cut and a mesh-lined waistband, which is the detail that fixes the complaint kids actually make.
For a club player training three or four times a week. Mesh inserts on the lower back and the line most US clubs already specify, so it is also the short most likely to match the team.
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. The price in each button is the one Amazon reported on the date stamped under it — tap through for today’s number, which is the only one that can be relied on.
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Product
Best for
Surface
Fit notes
Price
1
adidas Entrada 26 Youth ShortsThe right first answer for almost everybody: a real soccer short, a working drawcord, and no money spent on features a child cannot use.
U6, U7–U8 rec, U9–U10, U11–U12, U13+ travel & club
Training and match short
Regular fit with a drawcord, which is what makes it work on a slim waist — size by waist rather than by age, and pull the cord.
Product photos come from each item’s current Amazon listing.
The liner problem, which nobody mentions
None of the four soccer shorts on this page has an inner liner. Storelli's guide says so explicitly about the Entrada and it is true of the rest: teamwear shorts are a single layer of polyester, on the assumption that the player is wearing something underneath.
For a six-year-old in briefs this is a non-issue. From about nine it becomes one, particularly on a tournament weekend, because a single layer of polyester on a sweating thigh chafes. The fix is a compression short, which is why Under Armour's kids' HeatGear short is on this list: thin, flatlock-seamed to stop exactly that rubbing, and cheap.
In practice that means buying the compression short in the team's shorts color rather than whatever is on sale, and it is the same rule that catches families out with cold-weather leggings. The cold weather gear page runs into it from the other end.
1. adidas
adidas Entrada 26 Youth Shorts
The right first answer for almost everybody: a real soccer short, a working drawcord, and no money spent on features a child cannot use.
Best for
The default pair, and the one to buy two of, U6 through U13+
Levels
U6 — first kicks · U7–U8 rec · U9–U10 · U11–U12 · U13+ travel & club
Type / surface
Training and match short
How it fits
Regular fit with a drawcord, which is what makes it work on a slim waist — size by waist rather than by age, and pull the cord. It runs long, so a size down is often the better call on a younger player.
What we like
The cheapest short from a real soccer brand that still has a drawcord, which is the feature that matters most on a thin kid
Plain enough to pass as a team short at almost any club, so one pair covers training and most game days
Cheap enough to own two, which is the actual solution to a Saturday-morning laundry problem
Where it falls short
No inner liner, so a young player needs compression shorts or briefs underneath
Storelli's own guide notes the Entrada runs slightly long, which on a short-legged seven-year-old means a short that reaches the knee
Manufacturer’s published specs
Lightweight 100% recycled polyester body (adidas)
Climacool moisture management
Elastic waistband with drawcord
Regular fit, mid rise
Youth sizing from Y2XS upward on the outgoing generation
These are the manufacturer’s own claims, not measurements we took.
The pick for the kid who refuses to wear baggy shorts, and the best waistband of the group.
Best for
A slimmer player who hates baggy shorts, U8 and up
Levels
U7–U8 rec · U9–U10 · U11–U12 · U13+ travel & club
Type / surface
Training and match short
How it fits
Cut slimmer and shorter than a regular-fit teamwear short. On a tall player size up for length rather than width; on a wide-hipped player it is the wrong short.
What we like
The mesh-lined waistband is the one construction detail here that addresses the actual complaint kids have, which is a waistband that itches and sweats
A slimmer, more tapered cut than the adidas teamwear shorts, which suits a thin kid who looks swamped in a regular fit
Sold in the full youth range including YXS, so it covers the small end properly
Where it falls short
Storelli's guide notes the Park III runs short on taller players and clings when it is soaked, both of which follow directly from the slimmer cut
Fewer colorways in youth sizing than the adidas equivalents, which matters if a club specifies a shade
Manufacturer’s published specs
Sweat-wicking Dri-FIT fabric (Nike)
Stretchy waistband lined with mesh for breathability
100% polyester
Youth sizes YXS through YXL
These are the manufacturer’s own claims, not measurements we took.
The right step up, and only for a player whose training load justifies it.
Best for
A club player training three or four times a week, U9 and up
Levels
U9–U10 · U11–U12 · U13+ travel & club
Type / surface
Training short
How it fits
Regular fit with a fully elasticated drawcord waist. Sized by youth bands rather than waist measurement, so check the band against a short that currently fits.
What we like
The mesh venting is the real difference from the Entrada and it is in the right place for a player who is running constantly rather than standing in a line
Tiro is the line most US clubs already specify, so it is the short most likely to match what the team wears
Built for the volume a travel-club schedule puts through a pair of shorts, which an entry-tier short is not
Where it falls short
Costs meaningfully more than the Entrada for a difference a once-a-week rec player will never notice
Still has no inner liner, so the compression-short question is unchanged
Manufacturer’s published specs
Climacool, which adidas describes as wicking and dispersing sweat (adidas)
Fully elasticated waistband with drawcord
Mesh inserts on the lower back for ventilation
100% recycled polyester
These are the manufacturer’s own claims, not measurements we took.
The quiet fix for chafing and for the no-liner problem, and the cheapest item on this page to get right.
Best for
The layer that goes under the match shorts, U9 and up
Levels
U9–U10 · U11–U12 · U13+ travel & club
Type / surface
Compression base layer short
How it fits
Compression fit, sized in kids' bands. Snug is the point — a loose compression short rolls up the thigh and chafes exactly where it is meant to prevent it.
What we like
Solves the problem every short on this page creates, which is that none of them have a liner
Flatlock seams are the detail that stops a compression short chafing on a long tournament day
Thin enough to wear under a match short without the kid noticing it is there, which is the only way it gets worn twice
Where it falls short
Under Armour sells it as a base layer, not a standalone short, and a child who wears it alone to a game is out of uniform
Most leagues require undershorts to match the main color of the shorts, so the color you buy is not a free choice
Manufacturer’s published specs
Ultra-soft HeatGear fabric (Under Armour)
Mesh panels for targeted ventilation
4-way stretch construction
Ergonomic flatlock seams to reduce chafing
Elastic waistband; 90% polyester / 10% elastane
These are the manufacturer’s own claims, not measurements we took.
Two, for almost every family, and that matters more than which short you pick. A single pair means every training session is followed by a load of laundry that has to be finished before the next one, and the pair that is still in the washer on Saturday morning is the reason families end up buying a second pair in a panic at a price they did not intend to pay.
Two pairs of the cheapest real soccer short beats one pair of the match-tier short on every axis a parent cares about. If the club specifies a match short, the right pattern is one specified match pair plus one cheap training pair, not two of the expensive one.
The short is rarely the problem. The number of pairs and the layer underneath usually are.
Situation
What to buy
Why
Rec, once or twice a week
Two pairs of Entrada 26
Laundry, not performance, is the constraint
Kid hates baggy shorts
Park III, sized for length
Slimmer, shorter cut; best waistband here
Club, three or four sessions a week
Tiro 26 League
Lower-back mesh venting; the line clubs specify
Club specifies the match short
One Tiro 26 Match Day plus a cheap training pair
Match tier for games only
Chafing, or a tournament weekend
Add a compression short
No teamwear short has a liner
Goalkeeper
Padded keeper bottoms, not shorts
A keeper lands on hips and knees
Scroll the table sideways on a narrow screen.
Keepers are the genuine exception to this whole page. A short does nothing for a player who spends the game landing on hard ground, and the answer there is padded bottoms — the youth goalkeeper pants picks cover what actually protects hips and knees, and goalie glove cuts explained deals with the other half of a keeper's kit.
Sizing, which is a waist question and not an age one
Youth shorts are sold in bands — YXS, YS, YM, YL, YXL — and those bands are built around average height and weight for an age, which is not a description of any particular child. A tall, thin nine-year-old and a short, solid nine-year-old are not the same size in anything.
Size by the waist of a short that currently fits, not by the age on the label. Lay the old pair flat and compare.
Check the drawcord exists. An elastic-only waistband has no adjustment, and on a slim child that is the whole decision.
Watch the length. The Entrada runs slightly long and the Park III runs short, which are the two published fit notes on this page and both of them bite.
Do not size up to grow into. A short that needs the cord pulled to its limit sits in bunched folds under a shirt, and kids pick at it all game.
Jerseys follow different rules again, because a jersey has to clear shoulders rather than a waist — youth soccer jersey sizing covers that side of the kit.
Is the match-tier short worth it?
Rarely, on its own merits. The adidas Tiro 26 Competition Match Day short is the nicest item here — side mesh inserts, the lightest feel of the four, the full youth size range and a long list of club colorways — and the published construction difference between it and the League short in the same line is genuinely small.
There are two good reasons to buy it anyway, and both are honest. The first is that the club specified it and matching the team is not optional. The second is that a thirteen-year-old who likes their kit wears it, trains in it and looks after it, and that is worth something real even though it does not appear on a spec sheet.
What is not a good reason is the belief that it will make a difference to how they play. It will not, and the same money spent on a second pair of training shorts and a compression short underneath solves two problems the family actually has.
Washing them, briefly
Same rules as a jersey, because it is the same fabric: cold water, inside out, normal detergent, no fabric softener, and air dry. Softener coats polyester and traps the odor it is supposed to remove, which is why a short that still smells after washing has usually been softened rather than under-washed.
The compression short is the one to be careful with. Elastane loses its stretch to heat faster than polyester does, and a compression short with no compression left is just a thin short that rolls up the leg. How to wash a soccer jersey has the full method, and it applies to everything in the bag.
Socks are the other half of this purchase and they wear out faster than any short will — the youth soccer sock picks are sorted on retention, which is also what keeps shin guards where they belong. And if the player is 13 or 14, the kit list changes at the same moment their footwear does: best soccer cleats for 13 and 14 year olds has that side of it.
Common questions
What are the best youth soccer shorts?+
For most families the adidas Entrada 26 Youth Shorts, bought two pairs at a time. It is the cheapest short from a real soccer brand that still has an elastic waistband with a drawcord, which is the feature that decides whether shorts stay up on a slim child. The Nike Park III is the better pick for a kid who dislikes baggy shorts, and the Tiro 26 League short is the step up for a club player training three or four times a week.
Do youth soccer shorts have a liner?+
No. Teamwear soccer shorts are a single layer of polyester with no inner liner, on the assumption that the player wears something underneath. For younger children briefs are fine; from about nine, a thin compression short stops the chafing that a single polyester layer causes on a long tournament day.
What do kids wear under soccer shorts?+
Briefs for younger players, and a thin compression short from about nine upward. Check the color before buying: Law 4 of the Laws of the Game requires undershorts and tights to match the main color of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts, and for all players on a team to wear the same color, so a black under layer beneath white match shorts is a kit violation.
How do I size youth soccer shorts?+
By the waist of a short that currently fits, not by the age on the label. Youth bands are built around average height and weight for an age, which describes no particular child. Lay an old pair flat and compare, check that the waistband has a drawcord, and do not size up to grow into — a short cinched to the limit of its cord bunches under the shirt and gets picked at all game.
How many pairs of soccer shorts does a kid need?+
Two. With one pair, every session is followed by a load of laundry that has to be finished before the next one, and the pair still in the washer on Saturday morning is why families buy a second pair in a panic at a price they did not plan. Two cheap pairs beat one expensive pair for every problem a parent actually has.
Are expensive soccer shorts worth it for kids?+
Only for two honest reasons: the club specified them, or the kid will wear and look after kit they are proud of. The published construction difference between a club training short and a match-tier short in the same line is small, and the same money spent on a second training pair plus a compression short underneath solves more.
Can kids wear compression shorts as soccer shorts?+
No. Under Armour sells its kids' HeatGear short as a base layer rather than a standalone short, and a player wearing one on its own is out of uniform. It goes under the match shorts, in a color that matches them.
Sources
Pro:Soccer — youth soccer shorts — The availability check for this site's shorts picks on 2026-10-09: the current youth teamwear short lines in stock are the adidas Entrada 26, the adidas Tiro 26 Youth League and the adidas Tiro 26 Youth Competition Match Day, alongside club replica shorts. Used to establish which generation of each line is the one a parent can actually buy today.
Pro:Soccer — adidas Entrada youth soccer shorts — The Entrada line's published construction as retailers list it: regular fit, elastic waist with drawcord, mid-rise, and a lightweight 100% recycled polyester body with adidas's moisture-management treatment. The outgoing Entrada 22 listing on the same retailer, used as the cross-check, specifies 100% recycled polyester interlock with AEROREADY and youth sizes Y2XS through YXL.
Pro:Soccer — Nike Park III youth shorts — Verified in stock on 2026-10-09, and the source for the published spec: sweat-wicking Dri-FIT, a stretchy waistband lined with mesh for breathability, 100% polyester, youth sizes YXS through YXL.
Pro:Soccer — adidas Tiro 26 Youth Competition Match Day shorts — Verified in stock on 2026-10-09, and the source for the published spec of the Tiro 26 match tier: CLIMACOOL which 'wicks and disperses sweat', an elasticated waistband with drawcord, side mesh inserts, regular fit with a mid-rise, 100% recycled polyester, youth sizes YXS through YXL. The Tiro 26 Youth League short in the same line is listed with Climacool, a fully elasticated waistband with drawcord and mesh inserts on the lower back.
Sport Chek — Under Armour Kids' HeatGear Shorts (spec sheet) — The retailer spec sheet for Under Armour's kids' HeatGear short, and the source for its published construction: ultra-soft HeatGear fabric, mesh panels for targeted ventilation, 4-way stretch, ergonomic flatlock seams to reduce chafing, an elastic waistband, and a 90% polyester / 10% elastane body. Under Armour positions it as a base layer rather than a standalone short.
Storelli — the best shorts for soccer — A brand buying guide, used for the criteria it names — position and playing style, compression against regular fit, climate and material, and waistband adjustability — and for the honest limitations it publishes on shorts this site also recommends: the adidas Entrada has no inner liner and runs slightly long, and the Nike Dri-FIT Park III has a slim tapered cut that runs short on taller players and clings when soaked.
IFAB Laws of the Game — Law 4, The Players' Equipment — The Law text quoted on this site: undershorts and tights must be the same color as the main color of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts, and players of the same team must wear the same color; shinguards must be of suitable material and appropriate size, covered by the socks, with the player responsible for their suitability; non-dangerous protective equipment of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted; and a player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous, which must be removed rather than taped or covered. Law 4.3 is also the source for the kit-color rules quoted here: the two teams must wear colors that distinguish them from each other and the match officials, and each goalkeeper must wear colors that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials. Law 4.4 names gloves, headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors of soft, lightweight padded material as permitted non-dangerous protective equipment, and separately permits goalkeepers caps and tracksuit bottoms.
