How Many Soccer Players Are on a Field / Team

How many Soccer players are there on a soccer team?

The standard number of players on a soccer team is eleven.

Each team comprises one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. The outfield players have specific roles and responsibilities and are divided into defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The goalkeeper’s role is to prevent the opposing team from scoring by stopping shots on goal.

What is the minimum number of players on a soccer team?

The minimum number of players required to start a soccer game is seven. If a team has fewer than seven players, the game is forfeited. If a team has seven or more players, they can continue to play, but they must have at least seven players on the field at all times. If a team has fewer than seven players on the field, the game is abandoned.

How many soccer players can be on a soccer team for each age group?

The number of players on a soccer team can vary depending on the age group. For children under six years of age, the game is typically played with four players on each team, without a goalkeeper. For children aged seven to eleven, the game is played with seven players on each team, including a goalkeeper. For players aged twelve and above, the standard number of players is eleven.

how many soccer players

How many substitutions are allowed in soccer?

Substitutions are an essential part of soccer, allowing coaches to replace tired or injured players or make tactical changes to the team. The number of substitutions allowed can vary depending on the competition rules.

How many substitutes are allowed for each competition?

Most professional soccer leagues, including the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga, allow each team to make three substitutions during the game. However, some competitions have allowed five substitutions during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

What happens if there are too many players on the soccer field?

If there are too many players on the soccer field, the referee will stop the game and ask the extra player to leave the field. The game will resume once the correct number of players is on the field.

What happens if a goal is scored with an extra person on the field?

If a goal is scored while there is an extra person on the field, the goal will be disallowed, and the game will resume with a goal kick or corner kick, depending on who last touched the ball.

Number of players per squad for each league

The number of players per squad and allowed substitutions varies depending on the league and tournament. For youth soccer, the number of players per squad is around 18-22, and the number of allowed substitutions is around 3-5, depending on the league and tournament rules. 

College soccer allows 30 players per squad and unlimited substitutions, but with a limit of three stoppages per team per half for substitution purposes. Major League Soccer (MLS) allows 30 players per squad and five substitutions per team per match. 

The English Premier League (EPL), Bundesliga, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League allow 25 players per squad and three substitutions per team per match. The World Cup allows 26 players per squad and five substitutions per team per match, with an additional substitution allowed in extra time.

What is the Number of soccer players per squad for each league?

The number of players per squad and allowed substitutions can vary depending on the league and tournament. Here’s a breakdown of the number of players per squad and allowed substitutions for some of the major soccer leagues and tournaments:

  1. Youth soccer: The number of players per squad and allowed substitutions varies depending on the league and tournament. Generally, the number of players per squad is around 18-22, and the number of allowed substitutions is around 3-5. However, it is best to check with the specific league or tournament for their rules and regulations.
  2. College soccer: According to the NCAA rules, the number of players per squad is 30, and the number of allowed substitutions is unlimited, but with a limit of three stoppages per team per half for substitution purposes [5].
  3. Major League Soccer (MLS): The number of players per squad is 30, and the number of allowed substitutions is five per team per match [2].
  4. English Premier League (EPL): The number of players per squad is 25, and the number of allowed substitutions is three per team per match [8].
  5. Bundesliga: The number of players per squad is 25, and the number of allowed substitutions is three per team per match [1].
  6. La Liga: The number of players per squad is 25, and the number of allowed substitutions is three per team per match [1].
  7. UEFA Champions League: The number of players per squad is 25, and the number of allowed substitutions is three per team per match [1].
  8. UEFA Europa League: The number of players per squad is 25, and the number of allowed substitutions is three per team per match [1].
  9. World Cup: The number of players per squad is 26, and the number of allowed substitutions is five per team per match, with an additional substitution allowed in extra time [1][6].
League/TournamentPlayers Per SquadAllowed Substitutions
Youth Soccer18-223-5
College Soccer (NCAA)30Unlimited (3 stoppages per half)
Major League Soccer (MLS)305 per match
English Premier League (EPL)253 per match
Bundesliga253 per match
La Liga253 per match
UEFA Champions League253 per match
UEFA Europa League253 per match
World Cup265 per match (plus extra in extra time)

Please note that these figures are subject to change and it’s always best to check with the specific league or tournament for the most current rules and regulations.

How to substitute a soccer player?

To substitute a soccer player, the coach must signal to the fourth official on the sidelines, who will indicate the substitution to the referee. The player leaving the field must first leave the field before the replacement player can enter the field. The substitution can take place at any stoppage in play, including throw-ins, corner kicks, or goal kicks.

Goalkeeper substitutions

Goalkeeper substitutions are different from outfield player substitutions. If a team wants to substitute their goalkeeper, they must signal to the fourth official, who will notify the referee. The goalkeeper must leave the field before the replacement goalkeeper can enter the field. If the goalkeeper is injured and cannot continue to play, the team can substitute a field player as a temporary goalkeeper until the injured goalkeeper recovers.

In conclusion,

 the number of players on a soccer team varies depending on the age group and competition rules. The standard number of players on a team is eleven, but there are exceptions for younger age groups. The minimum number of players required to start a game is seven, and the number of substitutions allowed can also vary depending on the competition rules. Remember to always check with the governing body or specific league for the most up-to-date information on rules and regulations.