How Many Soccer Players Are on the Field? | Rules & Guide

Soccer (association football) is the world’s most popular sport, with an estimated 250 million players active in over 200 countries. Its official rules (governed by FIFA and the IFAB) require that each team has 11 players on the field. Therefore, a full match begins with 22 players on the pitch at kick-off. This includes one goalkeeper (who can handle the ball in the penalty area) and ten outfield players per team. Note that a team’s entire roster may be larger (often 23–26 players in a tournament), but only 11 from that roster are on the field at once.

Table of Contents

The key facts at a glance:

11 players per team: Under Law 3 of the game, each team may have up to 11 players on the field, including one goalkeeper.
22 players total: In a standard match, 11 players from Team A and 11 from Team B take the field, totaling 22 players.
Starting lineup: Each team’s starting lineup (the “first eleven”) consists of 11 players – one keeper and ten outfielders.
Minimum players: A match cannot continue if a team has fewer than 7 players. If a team is reduced to 6 (e.g. by red cards or injuries), the game is abandoned.
FIFA rules: These numbers are set by FIFA and the Laws of the Game. They form the basis of team size and formations in soccer.

Below, we explore these rules in detail: how formations and player positions work on the soccer field, what substitutions are allowed, and how events like red cards or offside calls affect who remains on the field.

FIFA Regulations: The 11-Player Rule

Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game states that a match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players. One of those must be designated as the goalkeeper. In practice, both teams usually begin with a full roster of 11 players. A referee will not start a match unless each side has at least seven players ready. If this condition is not met (for example, if too many players are unavailable due to injury), the game cannot proceed.

These rules are enforced by IFAB and FIFA. The International Football Association Board maintains the Laws of the Game, and FIFA applies them to all competitions. For example, in World Cup and league matches, teams must field 11 players each. FIFA competitions strictly follow this 11-player rule to ensure fairness and consistency worldwide. Historically, the standard of 11 players per side dates back to the original codification of soccer rules in the 1860s.

Law 3 also implicitly limits substitutions by specifying the on-field count. Teams typically name up to 15 substitutes on the match sheet, but at most 11 from that list can be on the field at any time. FIFA and domestic leagues follow these guidelines to structure matches from start to finish. Ultimately, every official soccer match—whether a World Cup final or a local league game—starts with 11 players per team on the pitch.

Starting Lineup and Positions

Each team’s starting lineup (the “first eleven”) contains 11 players, including the goalkeeper. Coaches arrange these players into formations to balance defense and attack. Common outfield roles include:

Goalkeeper (GK): The one player allowed to use their hands within their own penalty area.
Defenders: Usually 3–5 players (e.g., center-backs, full-backs) who protect the goal.
Midfielders: Usually 3–5 players who link defense and attack, covering the center and flanks.
Forwards (Attackers): Usually 1–3 players (strikers, wingers) focused on scoring goals.

Soccer formations describe how these roles are distributed. For example, a 4-4-2 formation has 1 goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 forwards – totaling 11 players. A 4-3-3 has 1 goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 3 forwards. All formations must adhere to the 11-player limit. The Laws of the Game do not prescribe any particular formation. In fact, Law 3 explicitly notes that teams may use various outfield positions, but none are defined by the Laws. Coaches have the freedom to decide formations and player roles, but always within the 11-player rule.

The starting eleven also includes a team captain (wearing an armband), who is one of these 11 players. Aside from the goalkeeper, all outfield players must abide by general play rules: they cannot use their hands to control the ball (hands or arms), and must obey offside and other regulations. This organization of 11 roles (defense, midfield, attack) is fundamental to how soccer teams operate.

Soccer Field Layout

A regulation soccer pitch is about 100–110 meters long (touchline) and 64–75 meters wide (goal line) for international matches. This expansive area is significantly larger than many other sports fields, such as an NFL gridiron. The field has key markings:

A center circle (9.15 m radius) at midfield, which regulates player placement during kick-offs.
Penalty areas extending 16.5 m (18 yards) from each goal line. Fouls here can result in a penalty kick, and only the goalkeeper may handle the ball inside this box.
Goal areas extending 5.5 m (6 yards) from each goal line, from which goal kicks are taken.
Corner arcs (9.15 m radius) at each corner flag, indicating where corner kicks are taken.

These dimensions influence how the 11 players spread out. Defenders often stay near their own 18-yard box to protect the goal, midfielders occupy the central areas to link defense and attack, and forwards position themselves near the opponent’s box to receive passes. The width of the pitch allows teams to deploy wide wingers; about 68–75 m of width is available for flank play. In essence, the large standard field requires a full complement of players for effective coverage.

The offside rule ties to this layout: an attacker must have at least two opponents (usually one defender and the goalkeeper) between them and the goal line when a pass is made. Teams often align their defenders in a line near the top of the penalty area to create offside traps. Since each side has multiple defenders, the offside rule leverages that 11-player setup to maintain fair play. All these field features – center line, penalty boxes, etc. – are designed around having 11 players per team on the pitch.

Substitutes and Bench

Teams may name several substitutes, but only 11 players from each team can be on the field simultaneously. Currently, each team is allowed up to five substitutions in a match. (This was raised from three subs a few years ago: IFAB made the five-substitute rule permanent in 2022.) These substitutions use up to three stoppages in play, plus the half-time break (which does not count against the limit). If a match goes into extra time, teams can use any remaining subs and often get one extra change.

Teams list several players on the match roster (bench) before kickoff. For example, in many leagues each team names 18 players (11 starters + 7 bench), and may use up to 5 of them. World Cup squads list 23 or more players, but again only 11 can play at once. Having a larger roster allows strategic substitutions, but it does not change the on-field count. No matter how large the squad, a team must field only 11 players at any time.

League rules vary: the Premier League allows 5 subs from 9 bench players, Serie A allows 5 subs from 15 bench, and so on. International friendlies and some tournaments may allow even more subs, but the principle is the same. Once a player is taken off, they cannot re-enter, so the team continues with the replacement player filling that spot.

In summary, substitutions change which players are on the field but not how many. A team always has 11 on-field players (assuming no red cards) because one player comes off for another. This maintains the fixed team size during play.

Offside Rule and Defensive Lines

The offside rule is a great example of how player count influences soccer tactics. Law 11 says a player is in an offside position if they are nearer the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender at the moment a teammate plays the ball. In practice, this means two defenders (often one being the goalkeeper) must be closer to the goal than the attacker. Teams will keep one defender on the goal line and one more back, ensuring attackers don’t get an unfair jump on goal.

Defensive lines exploit this rule. If attackers try to wait behind defenders, they are easily flagged offside. Since offside only penalizes involvement (touching or influencing play), attackers can lurk in line and then sprint in when a pass is made. The presence of multiple defenders (enabled by 11-player teams) makes offside traps viable. Without sufficient defenders on the field, offside would be impossible to enforce.

Thus, with 11 per side, soccer can maintain two defenders back most of the time. This keeps the game balanced; attackers can’t camp near the goal without at least two opponents guarding them. The size of the defensive lineup (out of 11) and the field positions work together to make offside rules enforceable. In short, offside leverages the number of players: an attacker needs two opponents between themselves and goal to be onside, which is only sensible when each team has many players on the field.

Red Cards and Player Count

Under normal rules, soccer is 11 vs. 11, but red cards reduce those numbers. A player who receives a red card is immediately sent off and cannot be replaced. Their team continues with one fewer player. For example, if Team A gets one player red-carded, the game goes to 10 (Team A) vs. 11 (Team B). That one-player advantage often shifts momentum; the shorthanded team usually retreats into a defensive formation.

Multiple red cards can cut a team down further. The Laws mandate that a match should not continue if a team has fewer than 7 players. Therefore, if a team is somehow reduced to 6 players (through multiple send-offs or injuries with no subs left), the referee will abandon the match. While extremely rare in professional games, this rule prevents severely imbalanced contests. For example, a 2022 match in Argentina’s Champions Trophy was abandoned after 10 players were sent off in a brawl, leaving one team with only four players on the field.

Yellow cards (cautions) do not immediately remove players, but two yellow cards equal a red, which does. So a player can be sent off via a straight red or double-yellow. In any case, a sending-off reduces the on-field count by one. However, soccer’s standard expectation is 11 vs. 11; cards introduce short-term numerical imbalances, but the rules cap how low the number can go.

Youth Soccer and Variants

While top-level soccer uses 11 players per team, smaller-sided games are common, especially for youth development. 7-a-side soccer (7v7) is popular for younger age groups. Each team fields 7 players (6 field players + 1 goalkeeper) on a smaller pitch. This format gives kids more touches on the ball and keeps games lively. Coaches use a simplified formation (e.g. 3-3 or 2-3-1) for seven players, but the idea of a fixed lineup persists.

Indoor and other variants also exist. Futsal and beach soccer are typically 5-a-side games (4 field + 1 goalkeeper). For example, FIFA’s futsal rules explicitly state “two teams of five players each”. These games emphasize skills and quick play, but still use one goalie and a set number of fielders. Even casual street or pick-up games often agree on a number (5v5, 6v6, etc.), following the principle of equal team sizes.

In all these versions, the one-keeper rule holds. For instance, futsal uses one goalkeeper who can handle the ball in a smaller area. The remainder are outfield players. The key difference is simply the team size (5 or 7 instead of 11) and the pitch dimensions. However, official association football always uses 11 players per side. This is the standard that defines “how many players are on the field” for soccer.

Conclusion

By official FIFA regulations, a soccer match features 11 players on the field for each team, making 22 players in total at kick-off. This 11-player rule (one goalkeeper plus ten outfielders per side) is fundamental to the sport. Teams arrange these players into formations (e.g., 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, etc.), but the number remains fixed unless changed by substitutions or cards. The Laws also enforce a minimum of 7 players to keep the game viable.

Understanding this helps fans and players appreciate the game’s structure. Whether discussing a starting lineup, substitutions, or tactics, remember: each team has 11 players on the field in standard soccer. If you enjoyed this guide, please share it with fellow soccer fans and leave a comment below – perhaps discussing your favorite formations or moments when team numbers changed!

FAQ

Q: How many players are on the field in a soccer match?
A: A standard soccer match starts with 11 players on each team, for a total of 22 players on the field. This count excludes referees and assistants, who are not players. If a player is sent off (red card), the teams play with fewer (for example, 10 vs. 11 after one red card).

Q: What happens if a team has fewer than 11 players?
A: Teams usually begin with 11, but substitutions or red cards can reduce that number. The Laws of the Game state that no team can have fewer than 7 players. If a team is reduced to 6 players, the referee must abandon the match. In practice, matches almost always stay 11 vs. 11 unless a player is sent off.

Q: How many substitutions are allowed in soccer?
A: Each team can make up to five substitutions in a match. These substitutions use up to three stoppages (plus the break at half-time). A substituted player cannot return to the field. During extra time, teams can use any remaining subs, often one extra.

Q: What is the minimum number of players needed to start a match?
A: A match requires at least 7 players on each side to start and continue. That is the minimum according to the Laws. Most teams start with 11, but the game will not begin if a team has fewer than 7.

Q: Are referees counted as players on the field?
A: No. The 22 players (11 per team) count only the team members. A soccer match is officiated by a referee and two assistants, but they are not part of either team’s lineup.

Q: What are some common soccer formations?
A: Common formations include 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2. Each formation’s numbers refer to the count of defenders, midfielders, and forwards (plus 1 goalkeeper) adding up to 11. For example, a 4-4-2 means 1 GK, 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 forwards. Every standard formation uses exactly 11 players per team on the field.