It's a goal!

It's a goal!

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Brazil is preparing to host the World Cup in just a few weeks, but professional soccer players are not the only ones out there practicing the beautiful game.

Goal posts can be found almost anywhere across the country, from slums to sandy beaches, ready for soccer lovers of all kinds to have a kick-about.

. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

In the image above, a goal post stands in a field flooded by water from a tributary of the Amazon River.

The FIFA Laws of the Game are very specific about the size of a goal: the length between the posts should be 8 yards (7.32m) and the lower edge of the crossbar should be 8 ft. (2.44m) from the ground.

But all sorts of other goals are used by amateur players, who can employ anything from scraps of wood nailed together, to rusting pieces of metal to have a match.

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Slideshow

Goal posts stand on Leblon beach in Rio de Jameiro,
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Goal posts stand on Leblon beach in Rio de Jameiro,

Rio's famous Christ the Redeemer statue is seen through the netting of a goal.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

Rio's famous Christ the Redeemer statue is seen through the netting of a goal.

A goal stands on Sao Conrado beach in Rio.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

A goal stands on Sao Conrado beach in Rio.

A goal is seen inside the Arena de Sao Paulo stadium in Sao Paulo.
. SAO PAULO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

A goal is seen inside the Arena de Sao Paulo stadium in Sao Paulo.

Goals stand on either side of a dusty pitch.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

Goals stand on either side of a dusty pitch.

An improvised goal made with sticks tied together is seen in Rio.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

An improvised goal made with sticks tied together is seen in Rio.

A dog stands next to a mini goal.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

A dog stands next to a mini goal.

Jumbled housing looms above a goal in the Tavares Bastos slum.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Jumbled housing looms above a goal in the Tavares Bastos slum.

Tangled netting hangs behind a goal in the Sao Francisco Xavier neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

Tangled netting hangs behind a goal in the Sao Francisco Xavier neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

A set of goal posts stand in the capital Brasilia.
. BRASILIA, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

A set of goal posts stand in the capital Brasilia.

Vultures perch on a goal post in Rio's Mare slum complex.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

Vultures perch on a goal post in Rio's Mare slum complex.

A goal stands in Rio's Sao Francisco Xavier neighbourhood.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

A goal stands in Rio's Sao Francisco Xavier neighbourhood.

Handprints decorate a wall behind a goal in Rio.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

Handprints decorate a wall behind a goal in Rio.

A goal stands in Rio's Tavares Bastos slum.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

A goal stands in Rio's Tavares Bastos slum.

A goal stands on Leblon beach.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

A goal stands on Leblon beach.

The sun sets behind a goal on Botafogo beach with Sugar Loaf mountain in the background.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

The sun sets behind a goal on Botafogo beach with Sugar Loaf mountain in the background.

A goal post is seen against the night sky in Sao Paulo.
. SAO PAULO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

A goal post is seen against the night sky in Sao Paulo.

A goal stands on Copacabana beach.
. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

A goal stands on Copacabana beach.