How Many Players on a Soccer Team?

Soccer (association football) is played worldwide by millions, making it the most popular sport on the planet (known simply as “football” in most countries). The rules of association football are uniform globally. A FIFA survey found about 265 million people actively play soccer, illustrating its massive reach. For example, in England’s Premier League (20 teams), a single matchday has 10 games, each with 22 players on the field, totaling 220 players in play at once.

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By rule, a match is contested by two teams, each of which fields 11 players on the field (including one goalkeeper). In other words, the number of players on a soccer team in a match is 11 per side (22 players total). This article will explain the official rules, formation roles, substitution rules, and more to fully answer that question.

In everyday conversation, “soccer team” might mean the players taking the field, but it can also refer to the entire roster of athletes signed to the team. In soccer lingo, the eleven players who begin the game are often called the starting lineup or first 11. We’ll clarify both meanings and discuss how many substitutes and total squad members a team typically has in various competitions.

Official Rules and Team Size

Image: A soccer team (players in blue jerseys) huddles together on the field before the match.

Soccer’s rules are set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and enforced by FIFA. Law 3 of the IFAB Laws of the Game states that each side fields 11 players (including one goalkeeper). A match cannot start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players on the pitch. In practical terms, a team must have at least 7 players (including a goalie) to play; otherwise, the game is abandoned.

Goalkeeper: One of the 11 players, the goalkeeper is the only one permitted to handle the ball in the penalty area. Law 3 specifically says “one must be the goalkeeper”.
Outfield Players: The other 10 players take roles in defense, midfield, and attack.
Minimum Players: If a team is reduced below 7 players (due to injuries or red cards), the referee must stop the match. In practice, teams often continue with 10 vs. 11 after a red card, but losing too many players (down to 6) forces abandonment.
Substitute Registration: Competition rules often require listing all players and substitutes before kickoff. If a team starts with fewer than 11 players (e.g. due to a last-minute injury), only those pre-named (starters and subs) can later join the match.

These rules are consistent worldwide. For example, FIFA’s World Cup uses the same 11-on-field requirement, but each team has a full roster (squad) of 23 to 26 players. Adult soccer is fundamentally an 11-versus-11 game in official play.

Team Formation and Player Roles

Image: Aerial view of a soccer match on a green field. Players from both teams are visible across the pitch in typical positions.

In soccer, each team includes exactly 11 players on the pitch – one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. According to sports terminology, the “starting lineup” is the official list of players who begin the match. In soccer, these 11 starters are often the team’s best players.

Coaches organize a team into positions via formations. A typical breakdown is:

Defense: e.g. 4 defenders (center-backs and full-backs) protect the goal.
Midfield: e.g. 4 midfielders control the center of the field.
Attack: e.g. 2 forwards (strikers) lead the offense.
Goalkeeper: 1 per team as noted.

For example, a 4-4-2 formation has four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards (plus one goalkeeper). Many other formations exist (4-3-3, 3-5-2, etc.), but they always add up to 10 outfield players plus the goalie.

Other common formations include:

4-3-3: 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, 3 forwards.
4-2-3-1: 4 defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, 3 attacking midfielders, 1 striker.
3-5-2: 3 defenders, 5 midfielders (including wing-backs), 2 forwards.

Each formation still sums to 10 field players (the goalkeeper makes 11). As noted in soccer guides, formation numbers count only the outfield players, excluding the goalie.

Image: Women’s soccer players competing on the field during a match.

In practice, coaches choose formations to suit their strategies. For example, a common setup is 4-4-2, with 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 forwards (plus goalkeeper). This formation balances offense and defense. Other teams might use a 4-3-3 (4 defenders, 3 midfielders, 3 forwards) to add firepower up front, or a 3-5-2 (3 defenders, 5 midfielders, 2 forwards) to dominate midfield play. Regardless of the mix, the formation still uses all 10 outfield players (plus the GK).

Image: A soccer goalkeeper in a yellow uniform stands by the goal on a field.

Every soccer team includes one goalkeeper, who guards the goal. This player is part of the 11 and wears a different color shirt. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to handle the ball with their hands (within the penalty area). Teams usually have multiple goalkeepers on their roster for injury cover, but only one starts the match. In the photo, a goalkeeper in yellow stands ready by the net, illustrating this specialized position in action.

In traditional jersey numbering, the goalkeeper is #1, defenders often range #2–#5, midfielders #6–#8, and forwards #9–#11. For example, the famous “number 10” shirt is usually an attacking playmaker (though this is a convention, not a rule). These numbers reflect old-school positions, but the Laws of the Game only care about the total count of players, not their shirt numbers.

Substitutes, Bench Players, and Squad Sizes

Beyond the 11 starters, teams carry extra players. The size of the squad and how many substitutions can be used depends on the competition:

Substitutions per Game: Most professional competitions allow up to 5 substitutes to be used by each team. (Previously it was 3, but FIFA has approved 5 for major tournaments like the World Cup.)
Bench Players: Because 5 may be used, teams often list around 7 to 12 players on the bench. Only those named before kickoff can enter the game.
World Cup Squads: In tournaments, each national team has a larger roster. For example, the 2022 FIFA World Cup allowed squads of 23 to 26 players. These include three goalkeepers and 20–23 outfield players.
Club Rosters: Professional clubs often carry large squads. For example, Major League Soccer teams can have up to 30 players on their roster (though typically only ~18 are active on matchday). In the English Premier League, each club may list up to 25 senior players (plus eligible under-21 players). Coaches build these rosters to ensure depth across all positions.
Squad Depth: Teams usually carry backups for each position. In a roster of about 25 players, this often means roughly 3 goalkeepers, 7–8 defenders, 7–8 midfielders, and 4–5 forwards. Coaches plan squads to cover all roles.
International Matches: In senior “A” internationals (e.g., World Cup qualifiers), teams may name up to 15 substitutes (of which 6 can be used). This is why international squads often list many players.
Injury Replacements: If a player is seriously injured before a tournament begins, many competitions allow a replacement. For example, World Cup teams could replace an injured player up to 24 hours before their first match.
Extra Time: In matches that go to extra time, teams may use any unused substitutions, and competitions often allow an additional sub (a 6th) in extra time.
Goalkeepers: Each team fields 1 goalkeeper in a match, but squads carry more. For example, World Cup rosters must include 3 goalkeepers among the 23–26 players, even though only one plays at a time.

These larger rosters ensure teams can handle injuries and fatigue, but only 11 take the field at any time. Teams must announce their full lineup (starters and subs) before kickoff, and no unregistered players can join during the game. In leagues like MLS, for instance, all 30 roster players are eligible for selection, but only a subset (commonly 18) make the match-day squad.

Team Roster vs Starting Lineup

In soccer, a clear distinction exists between a team’s starting lineup and its overall squad/roster. The starting lineup (or “first 11”) is the eleven players selected to take the field at kick-off. Before the game starts, teams submit this lineup to the referee on a matchday roster sheet, which officially confirms the 11 players each team will have on the field. This ensures that each team is fielding the correct number of players as required by the rules. The squad or roster includes all players registered with the team for a season or tournament, including substitutes and reserves.

For example, a professional club may have a roster of 25–30 players on its books. In Major League Soccer, each team’s roster can include up to 30 players, but not all will play each game. Matchday squads are smaller: typically around 18 players (11 starters plus about 7 substitutes). From those, the coach names 11 in the starting lineup. Any players not chosen in the lineup remain on the bench or stand as reserves for that match.

Likewise, international teams carry larger squads for tournaments. In the FIFA World Cup, teams register squads of 23–26 players, yet only 11 take the field at the start of each match. Coaches pick their lineup from this pool. Over the course of a competition, different players from the squad may start different matches based on tactics, injuries, or form.

Key point: Having a larger roster allows a team to rotate players across many games, but it is always only 11 on-field players who start each match. The rest of the roster provides depth and options.

Variations: Youth and Small-Sided Soccer

The 11-player standard applies to adult (11v11) soccer, but other formats use fewer players:

Youth Soccer: Young age groups often play with smaller teams. For example, under-11 (U11) competitions in many countries use 9-a-side (instead of 11). Even younger players (U9 or U10) commonly play 7-a-side games. These scaled-down formats give kids more touches on the ball and improve learning.
Futsal (Indoor Soccer): Futsal is a FIFA-sanctioned indoor soccer variation with 5 players per side (4 field players plus 1 goalkeeper). The smaller court and team size make futsal fast-paced and technical.
Beach Soccer: Played on sand, beach soccer also uses 5 players per team, including the keeper. The game emphasizes dribbling and shooting in an unpredictable environment.
Mini/Social Soccer: Recreational games or training often use arbitrary team sizes (e.g., 4v4, 6v6) for fun or skill development. The key is that any reduced format is optional for casual play; official competitions stick to standard team sizes for their rules.

Remember, the typical soccer team is 11-a-side. These other formats are special cases for indoor play or age-appropriate rules, and they do not change the core rule of 11 players per team in standard soccer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many players are on the field in soccer?
A: Each team fields 11 players (10 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper) during a standard match. So there are 22 players on the field in total at kick-off.

Q: Is the goalkeeper included in the count of 11 players?
A: Yes. The rule of 11 players includes the goalkeeper. A team has 1 goalkeeper and 10 other players. If a team lists 11 players, one must be the goalie.

Q: How many players can be on the bench for a soccer match?
A: It depends on the competition’s rules. FIFA’s laws allow teams to name up to 15 substitutes for a match, although only a maximum of 5 can be used. In practice, teams often field a matchday squad of around 18–23 players (11 starters plus substitutes). For example, many international tournaments and top leagues use squads of 23 (11 starters + 12 bench players).

Q: How many substitutes can a soccer team use?
A: In most modern competitions, teams can make up to 5 substitutions in a match. (This was traditionally 3, but has been raised to 5 in FIFA tournaments and many leagues.) Once a team has made its allowed substitutions, no other bench players may enter.

Q: How many players are on a World Cup soccer team roster?
A: World Cup squads are larger than the on-field 11. For example, the 2022 FIFA World Cup allowed each national team to register up to 26 players (expanded from the previous 23). The 2023 Women’s World Cup used 23-player squads. These numbers include multiple goalkeepers and outfield backups beyond the starting 11.

Q: What happens if a team has fewer than 11 players on the field?
A: If players leave (e.g., red cards or injuries) and a team drops below 7 players on the field, the match must be stopped. Teams are allowed to play with as few as 7, but not less. Starting a game requires at least 7 players per side, and if that number is breached (6 or fewer), the referee will abandon the match.

Q: Do all soccer teams around the world field 11 players?
A: Yes, adult soccer worldwide follows the 11-a-side format. The only exceptions are small-sided or youth games (like futsal or U9 competitions). In official adult competitions (professional leagues, World Cups, etc.), each team always starts with 11 players.

Q: Can soccer be played with fewer players (casually)?
A: Officially, only special formats (futsal, youth rules) use fewer players. Casual pick-up games might use whatever number of players show up (e.g., 6v6 or 8v8). But any such modifications are not part of the Laws of the Game; standard competitive soccer is strictly 11v11.

Q: How many players are on a youth soccer team roster?
A: Youth team roster sizes vary by league, but starting lineup sizes often change with age. For example, U11 soccer often uses 9 players per side, and even younger groups (U9) may use 7-a-side. Official rosters include those players, plus any substitutes allowed by the competition.

Q: How many players are on a futsal (indoor soccer) team?
A: Futsal is a form of indoor soccer. Each futsal team has 5 players on the court (including the goalkeeper). This smaller format makes for a fast-paced, high-scoring game.

Q: How many players are on a beach soccer team?
A: Beach soccer teams also field 5 players per side (including the goalkeeper). The game is played on sand with smaller goals and shorter matches, but still with 5-a-side teams.

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Conclusion

Whether you are a fan, player, or coach, it’s important to remember that each soccer team has 11 players on the field. This includes one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. For perspective, the 2022 World Cup had 32 teams with up to 26 players each – over 800 players in total participating in the tournament! Teams also carry many more players on their roster for substitutions and squad depth, but the core rule of soccer is that it’s an 11-versus-11 game at its heart.

Understanding how many players on a soccer team helps fans and newcomers grasp the game’s structure. If you learned something new, please share this article with fellow soccer enthusiasts and leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. Let’s keep the soccer conversation alive!