Give your guests a reason to snap away and create lifelong memories. Our guide covers the supplies and steps to make a stunning DIY photo backdrop for your soccer party.
A well-made DIY photo backdrop should capture the spirit of the occasion and draw your guests' attention. With the summer’s big tournament fast approaching, you can build a sturdy backdrop that will withstand repeated use and help you get through a summer packed with match-day watch parties.
As the Official Partner of the U.S. Soccer Federation, Loctite is proud to help bring your vision to life. Follow this guide to cut, stick, and hang your way to a stunning soccer-inspired DIY photo booth backdrop.
Looking to add some personality and uniqueness to your soccer event? Build an eye-catching DIY photo booth with the following steps.
1. Get supplies: You will need:
- Circular plywood/cardboard frame and round soccer tablecloth (about 3 feet in diameter)
- Cardboard or plastic poster board
- Soccer garlands
- Balloons/balloon arch
- Adhesive – Loctite Super Glue Ultra Liquid Control, Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel Control, and Loctite Fun-Tak Mounting Putty.
- Scissors
- Streamers
- Props – DIY soccer-themed glasses and trophy replicas (optional)
- Soccer posters – Depicting famous soccer stars, venues, and moments
- Cardboard sheets
- Wooden dowels
2. Prepare your canvas (cardboard or plastic poster board): A standard full-sized photo backdrop measures about 8x8 feet (you might have to glue a few poster boards together to achieve the desired size). Wipe the board clean and ensure it is completely dry before attaching other elements.
3. Layer your soccer elements: Give the board a stadium appeal with a soccer field layout accompanied by goal nets. Add an international feel by adorning it with flags from different nations. These could be flags of teams you support or of some of the greatest current or past rivalries.
Download and print soccer flags, then attach them to the poster board with Loctite Super Glue Ultra Liquid Control. Arrange the flags in rows until the board is completely covered. You can spice things up by adding posters of soccer stadiums, famous soccer players, and the tournament’s main trophy.
4. Add a giant soccer ball: Use Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel Control to attach the circular soccer tablecloth to a round plywood or cardboard frame. Use a pin to hold the tablecloth taut against the frame, then apply super glue along the perimeter, pressing down carefully as you go. Once you are done, set it aside to cure completely.
5. Set up your balloons: For a more festive look, add a balloon arch to your setup. You can start with a simple multicolored balloon arch, then add soccer-themed elements, such as black-and-white balloon soccer balls and colorful streamers.
6. Soccer-themed props (optional): Soccer-ball glasses, pompoms, and trophy replicas are some of the props you can use to add a playful element to your photo booth DIY project. While they don’t go directly on the board, you can place them nearby so guests can feature them in their shots where possible.
To make soccer-inspired glasses:
- Make circular cardboard cutouts (each about 2 inches in diameter).
- Download, print, and trim soccer ball shapes to the same size as the cardboard cutouts.
- Attach the printouts to the cardboard cutouts using Loctite Super Glue Ultra Liquid Control.
- Cut eye holes in the 2-dimensional cardboard balls.
- Assemble the cutouts side-by-side using a small strip of leftover cardboard on the back to form the bridge of the glasses.
- Use Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel Control to attach one end of a wooden dowel to the middle part of the “glasses.” The dowel acts as a handle.
You can also make DIY replicas of the tournament’s trophy at home with these steps:
- Download an image of a trophy and print it out (make as many copies as you need).
- Make a cutout of the trophy and use Loctite Super Glue Ultra Liquid Control to attach it to a piece of cardboard.
- Trim the cardboard around the trophy’s outline.
7. Bring everything together: Assemble the soccer photo backdrop by positioning the decorated posterboard in the middle. Set the balloon arch on one side, slightly overlapping with the main piece. Place the giant soccer ball on the opposite side to balance the setup.
Photo backdrops look best when displayed properly. However, if you don’t have a dedicated stand, there are other ways to hang your creation so your guests can enjoy it.
- Mounting putty: If you build a lightweight, plastic, or fabric backdrop (instead of using heavy cardboard), use Loctite’s Fun-Tak Mounting Putty to hang it without damaging your wall. To display your decorative creation, roll several tabs of the putty between your fingers, stick them to the wall, then press the backdrop firmly onto the adhesive.
Pro tip: Use four tabs of putty for every pound of weight.
- Curtain rod: For heavier setups, mounting putty may not be enough. Use a curtain rod to hang the backdrop safely and securely. Consider using zip ties or shower curtain clips to attach the backdrop to the rod.