How Many Players Are on a Soccer Team? Roster Size, On-Field Positions & Substitutes Explained

Quick Answer: How Many Players on a Soccer Team?

In official standard soccer (11-a-side football), each team has 11 players on the pitch at the start of a match—composed of 1 goalkeeper and 10 outfield players (defenders, midfielders, and forwards).

Beyond the 11 players on the pitch, professional teams name a matchday squad that includes between 7 and 12 substitutes seated on the team bench. Across an entire season, a professional club roster typically consists of 23 to 26 registered first-team players.

Under current IFAB Laws of the Game, a team can make up to 5 substitutions in a match (conducted over a maximum of 3 substitution stoppages), plus an additional concussion substitute where authorized.

IFAB Law 3: The Starting 11 on the Pitch

Law 3 ("The Players") of the IFAB Laws of the Game establishes the core rules regarding player numbers:

1. Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of 11 players; one of them must be the goalkeeper. No match may start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.

2. The Role of the Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper is the only player permitted to deliberately handle the soccer ball with hands or arms, and this privilege is strictly restricted to their own 18-yard penalty box. Every team must designate one goalkeeper at all times. If a goalkeeper is sent off with a red card or injured with no substitutions remaining, an outfield player must don the goalkeeper jersey and take over goalkeeping duties.

3. Equal Numbers: At kickoff, both teams field exactly 11 players, resulting in 22 active players on the pitch competing for the ball.

How the 11 Positions Are Distributed on the Field

While the rules require 1 goalkeeper, teams can arrange their 10 outfield players in any tactical formation they choose (such as 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, or 4-2-3-1). The 10 outfielders are divided into three main operational units:

• Defenders (Backline): Typically 3 to 5 players (Center-backs, Left-back, Right-back, or Wing-backs) tasked with protecting the penalty box, preventing opposition shots, marking attackers, and initiating buildup play.

• Midfielders (Engine Room): Typically 3 to 5 players (Defensive midfielders, Central midfielders, Attacking midfielders, or Wide wingers) responsible for linking defense to attack, intercepting opposition passes, and controlling match tempo.

• Forwards / Attackers (Frontline): Typically 1 to 3 players (Center-forwards, Strikers, Left wingers, Right wingers) focused on finishing scoring opportunities, pressing opposition center-backs, and stretching defenses.

For an exhaustive guide to player roles, shirt numbers, and positional duties, explore our comprehensive guide to football positions, roles, and numbers.

Substitutes Bench & The Modern 5-Substitution Rule

Matchday substitutes are crucial tactical weapons for managers to inject fresh energy, replace fatigued or injured players, or adjust defensive structures.

1. Bench Capacity: In domestic leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and MLS, teams can name up to 9 substitutes on the bench. In international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship, teams can name up to 15 substitutes (the entire remaining tournament squad).

2. The 5-Substitute Permanent Rule: Prior to 2020, teams were restricted to 3 substitutions per game. In response to congested schedules and player welfare concerns during 2020, IFAB introduced a temporary 5-substitute rule, which was made permanent in Law 3 in June 2022. Teams can make up to 5 substitutions during a match.

3. Three Substitution Windows: To prevent continuous time-wasting, managers are granted a maximum of 3 substitution opportunities (windows) during active play, in addition to changes made during halftime. If both teams make a substitution simultaneously, it counts as an opportunity used for each team.

4. Concussion Substitutes: Many competitions now authorize additional permanent concussion substitutions (APCS). If a player suffers a suspected head injury, the team may substitute them without using one of their standard 5 substitutions or 3 windows.

Minimum Players Required: What Happens After Red Cards?

What happens when multiple players are sent off with red cards or stretchered off with injuries after all substitutions have been used?

Under IFAB Law 3.1, a match cannot start or continue if either team has fewer than 7 players on the pitch.

If a team receives 5 red cards (leaving only 6 players on the pitch), the referee must abandon the match immediately. In competition regulations, an abandoned match caused by insufficient players is ruled a forfeit, with the opposing team awarded an automatic 3-0 victory (or a higher score if they were already ahead by more).

A team can, however, play with 10, 9, or 8 players if only 1, 2, or 3 red cards have been issued, though defending with a player deficit requires immense physical resilience.

Full Squad Sizes: Club Rosters & World Cup Squads

While only 11 play at once, modern football requires deep squads to withstand grueling multi-competition seasons:

• Premier League & European Club Rosters: Clubs register a maximum 25-man squad for league competition, with regulations mandating a quota of "homegrown" players (players trained by domestic clubs for three years before age 21). Clubs can also utilize unlimited registered Under-21 academy players.

• FIFA World Cup Squads: For the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, squad sizes were expanded from the historical 23 players to 26 players per national team to safeguard player health.

• MLS Rosters: Major League Soccer allows senior rosters of up to 20 players, supplemented by Supplemental and Reserve rosters (up to 30 players total under salary cap regulations).

Small-Sided & Youth Soccer Team Sizes (5v5 to 9v9)

Youth soccer organizations (including US Soccer and the English FA) mandate small-sided games for younger age groups. Reducing the number of players increases the number of ball touches, passes, and 1v1 encounters each child experiences:

• U6 to U8 (4v4, No Goalkeepers): 4 players per team on miniature pitches to build fundamental footwork and spatial awareness.
• U9 to U10 (7v7): 7 players per team (1 goalkeeper + 6 outfielders) introducing basic defending, passing triangles, and build-out lines.
• U11 to U12 (9v9): 9 players per team (1 goalkeeper + 8 outfielders) on intermediate pitches, introducing the offside rule and tactical positional play.
• U13 and Older (11v11): Standard full-field soccer with 11 players per team.
• Futsal: 5 players per team (1 goalkeeper + 4 court players) played on hard indoor courts with a weighted low-bounce ball.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key queries regarding soccer team sizes answered concisely: