Preheat oven to 300°F and prepare a cupcake pan with liners.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well.

Stir in hot water until the batter is thin.

Fill all cupcake liners halfway and bake for 18-23 minutes.

Remove cupcakes and cool for 2 minutes, then transfer to rack.

Make buttercream by beating butter until creamy. Add half of powdered sugar and vanilla, then mix. Add remaining sugar, heavy cream, and salt, and beat until smooth.

Divide buttercream into parts: color one with green gel for grass, mix another with cocoa for footballs, and keep some white for laces.

Frost cupcakes with chocolate buttercream for footballs and pipe green grass around them. Use white buttercream to add laces.