How Many Players Are on a Soccer Team?
Updated
A soccer team has 11 players on the field, including one goalkeeper, so 22 players are on the field in a full game. Youth teams play smaller games: 4v4 at U6–U8 (no goalkeeper), 7v7 at U9–U10, 9v9 at U11–U12 and 11v11 from U13. The roster adds substitutes on top.
| Age or level | Players per team |
|---|---|
| U6–U8 | 4v4: 4, no goalkeeper |
| U9–U10 | 7v7: 6 + goalkeeper |
| U11–U12 | 9v9: 8 + goalkeeper |
| U13 to pro | 11v11: 10 + goalkeeper |
On this page
How many soccer players are on the field?
Under the Laws of the Game (IFAB Law 3), each team has a maximum of 11 players on the field, one of whom is the goalkeeper. With two teams, that makes 22 players on a soccer field at once.
Positions: one goalkeeper plus 10 field players, split into defenders, midfielders and forwards. The Laws don't fix how many of each; the coach picks a formation such as 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, and our guide to youth soccer positions explains what each role does.
How many players on a youth soccer team, by age
US Soccer's small-sided standards use fewer players on smaller fields at younger ages. US Youth Soccer and AYSO use the same formats:
| Age group | Per team | Both teams |
|---|---|---|
| U6–U8 (4v4) | 4, no GK | 8 |
| U9–U10 (7v7) | 6 + GK | 14 |
| U11–U12 (9v9) | 8 + GK | 18 |
| U13 and older (11v11) | 10 + GK | 22 |
US Soccer's 2026 U.S. WAY guidance treats these as maximum formats: smaller games are fine at every age, and it suggests 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 games for U5–U6. So a U10 team has 7 players on the field (6 field players and a goalkeeper), but a league may choose 6v6 or 5v5 instead. Check the youth soccer age groups guide for the format, ball and field size at each age.
How many players are on a soccer team, including substitutes
The full team, or roster, includes the substitutes. Roster limits depend on who runs the game:
| Level | Roster | Rule or guideline |
|---|---|---|
| 4v4 (U6–U8) | About 6 | US Soccer suggests about 6 per team; AYSO maximum 6 |
| 7v7 (U9–U10) | Up to 12 | US Soccer best practice; AYSO maximum 10 |
| 9v9 (U11–U12) | Up to 16 | US Soccer best practice; AYSO maximum 12 |
| 11v11 youth (U13+) | Up to 22 | No US Soccer standard; AYSO maximum 22; US Youth Soccer national events allow 9–22 on match day |
| High school | Varies | Check your state high school association |
| College (NCAA) | No NCAA limit | NCAA rules don't limit how many players dress or play; conferences can |
| MLS (2026) | Up to 30; 20 on match day | 11 starters plus 9 substitutes on the match roster |
| World Cup 26 | 23–26 (at least 3 GKs) | Up to 15 substitutes named for each match |
| IFAB Laws | 14–26 on match day | Competitions name 3 to 15 substitutes |
US Soccer's youth roster numbers are best-practice standards, not mandates. Your league or club may set different limits.
How many substitutes are allowed?
Youth, high school and college soccer allow unlimited substitutions, while pro soccer caps them:
- Pro and international: up to 5 substitutes in official competitions; in top divisions and senior internationals, in no more than 3 stoppages plus half-time (IFAB Law 3). The World Cup 26 added 1 more in extra time and 1 permanent concussion substitute.
- College (NCAA): unlimited, up to 11 at a time, with limits on re-entry.
- High school (NFHS): unlimited substitutions and unlimited re-entry.
- US youth small-sided games: unlimited substitutions.
The full details, including when you can sub and goalkeeper changes, are in our soccer substitution rules guide.
Minimum number of players to start a game
Under IFAB Law 3, an 11v11 match can't start or continue if either team has fewer than 7 players. Smaller formats have lower minimums:
| Format | Minimum | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 11v11 | 7 | IFAB Law 3; AYSO |
| 9v9 | 6 | US Soccer standards; AYSO |
| 7v7 | 5 | US Soccer standards; AYSO |
| Futsal (5 a side) | 3 | FIFA Futsal Laws |
If a team drops below the minimum during a game, for example after injuries, the match can't continue. For 4v4, check your league.
Playing time by roster size
Roster size decides how many minutes each player gets. With equal time, each player plays players on the field × game minutes ÷ roster size. Here are the exact numbers from our rotation engine:
| Roster | On bench | Minutes each | Share of game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 players | 1 | 43:45 | 88% |
| 9 players | 2 | 38:53 | 78% |
| 10 players | 3 | 35:00 | 70% |
| 11 players | 4 | 31:49 | 64% |
| 12 players | 5 | 29:10 | 58% |
| 13 players | 6 | 26:55 | 54% |
| 14 players | 7 | 25:00 | 50% |
| Roster | On bench | Minutes each | Share of game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 players | 1 | 54:00 | 90% |
| 11 players | 2 | 49:05 | 82% |
| 12 players | 3 | 45:00 | 75% |
| 13 players | 4 | 41:32 | 69% |
| 14 players | 5 | 38:34 | 64% |
| 15 players | 6 | 36:00 | 60% |
| 16 players | 7 | 33:45 | 56% |
| 17 players | 8 | 31:46 | 53% |
| 18 players | 9 | 30:00 | 50% |
US Soccer's roster caps line up with its playing-time guidance that every player plays at least 50% of each game. A full 12-player 7v7 roster still gives everyone 29:10 (58%), and a full 16-player 9v9 roster gives 33:45 (56%). With more than 14 players in 7v7, or 18 in 9v9, equal time drops below half the game.
These numbers assume you can sub often enough to share time evenly. To line up your players on the field, see the 7v7 soccer formations guide.
See exact minutes for your roster and the best sub interval
Open the playing time calculatorHigh school details: high school soccer rules. Shapes for each format: soccer formations explained.
Futsal and indoor soccer
Futsal is played 5 against 5, including the goalkeeper. A match can't start or restart with fewer than 3 players on a team. Substitutions are unlimited and "flying": players swap on the move through their team's substitution zone, and up to 9 substitutes can be used in an official competition. Indoor arena leagues write their own rules, so the number of players varies.
Frequently asked questions
How many players are on a soccer team including substitutes?
It depends on the level. Pro competitions name 3 to 15 substitutes, so a match-day squad is 14 to 26 players; MLS teams list 20 (11 starters and 9 subs). US Soccer recommends youth rosters of no more than 12 for 7v7 and 16 for 9v9. NCAA rules set no roster limit.
How many soccer players are on the field at one time?
In an 11v11 game there are 22 players on the field: 11 per team, each team with one goalkeeper and 10 field players. Youth games have fewer: 8 in total for 4v4, 14 for 7v7 and 18 for 9v9.
How many players are on a youth soccer team?
On the field, youth teams play 4v4 at U6–U8, 7v7 at U9–U10, 9v9 at U11–U12 and 11v11 from U13. US Soccer suggests about 6 players per 4v4 team and rosters of up to 12 for 7v7 and 16 for 9v9. AYSO caps rosters at 6, 10 and 12 for those formats.
How many players are on the field for U10 soccer?
U10 plays 7v7 under US Soccer's small-sided standards: 6 field players and a goalkeeper per team, 14 on the field in total. The format is a maximum, so some leagues play U10 games with fewer players. Check your league's rules.
What is the minimum number of players to play a soccer game?
In 11v11, a match can't start or continue if a team has fewer than 7 players (IFAB Law 3). US Soccer's youth standards set minimums of 5 players for 7v7 and 6 for 9v9, and futsal needs at least 3 per team.
How many players are on a futsal team?
Futsal is played 5 against 5, including the goalkeepers. Substitutions are unlimited and players can go back on. In official competitions a team can use up to 9 substitutes in a match, and a match can't start or restart if a team has fewer than 3 players.
How many players are on an MLS team?
For 2026, an MLS club's active roster has up to 30 players. For each match a team selects up to 20: 11 starters and 9 substitutes. Teams can make 5 substitutions in 3 opportunities, not counting half-time.
How many players are on a World Cup team?
For the FIFA World Cup 26, each country named a final squad of 23 to 26 players, including at least 3 goalkeepers. Up to 26 can be on the match list: 11 starters and up to 15 substitutes.
Sources
- IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27
- US Soccer Player Development Initiatives (small-sided standards), Oct 2017
- US Soccer Player Development Initiatives FAQ, Oct 2017
- US Soccer U.S. WAY: age-appropriate game formats (2026)
- AYSO Referee Guideline 2026-27
- US Youth Soccer 2025-26 National Championships and Presidents Cup Competition Rules
- NCAA Soccer 2026 and 2027 Rules Book
- MLS 2026 roster rules and regulations
- FIFA World Cup 26 Regulations
- FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26
Leagues, states and tournaments can set their own rules. When in doubt, check with your league.