Soccer Substitution Rules

Substitution rules by level

Leagues, states and tournaments can change these rules, so check yours before game day.

How many substitutes are allowed in soccer?

The Laws of the Game (IFAB Law 3) let a competition allow up to 5 substitutes per team in an official match, and teams name between 3 and 15 substitutes on the team sheet. Where 5 subs are allowed in top divisions and senior internationals, each team gets:

• 3 substitution opportunities, plus changes at half-time, which don't count. Several changes at one stoppage count as one opportunity.
• In extra time: unused subs and opportunities carry over. If the competition allows an extra substitute in extra time, the team also gets 1 more opportunity. Subs made just before extra time or at its half-time don't count as opportunities.

Friendlies can use more. New for 2026/27, senior international friendlies allow up to 8 (up from 6), or 11 if both teams agree. In other matches outside official competitions, teams can agree on more; without agreement the limit is 6. MLS follows the pro pattern: 5 subs in 3 opportunities, from 9 substitutes on the match roster.

For youth soccer, the Laws leave the maximum to the national association, and US Soccer's small-sided standards for U12 and younger allow unlimited subs. See how many players are on a soccer team for roster sizes.

When can you sub in soccer?

Pro soccer: subs happen at a stoppage, within the team's opportunities. New for 2026/27, the player coming off must leave within 10 seconds of the substitution board (or the referee's signal), at the nearest point of the boundary line. If not, the substitute can't come on until the first stoppage after one minute has passed.

High school (NFHS): subs are unlimited, but the type of stoppage decides which team can sub; the high school soccer rules guide has the full NFHS table.

College (NCAA): new for 2026-27, teams can sub any time the clock is stopped, plus on goal kicks and their own throw-ins and corner kicks. Re-entry is limited by half, and Division I men have only 6 sub moments. Our NCAA soccer substitution rules guide has the details.

US youth soccer: 4v4 subs can happen at any time; 7v7 and 9v9 subs happen at any stoppage. AYSO subs come about midway through each half, at half-time, at the start of overtime and for injuries; divisions using "monitored substitution" can sub at any stoppage.

Can a substituted player go back in?

• Pro soccer: no. The Laws allow "return substitutions" only in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots soccer, and only with the national association's approval.
• High school: yes, an unlimited number of times.
• College: a player taken off in the first half can't return until the second half; a player taken off in the second half can re-enter once. Goalkeepers can re-enter once per period. Division I men's field players can't re-enter in the same period.
• Youth soccer and futsal: yes. Players rotate on and off all game.

Goalkeeper substitutions

A goalkeeper can be substituted like any other player, and where subs are limited the change uses one of the team's substitutions. Keepers have extra rules on re-entry, penalty kicks and swapping places with a field player, all covered in our goalkeeper substitution rules, including penalty shootouts.

Concussion substitutes

Since 2024, the Laws let competitions use permanent concussion substitutes. Each team can use one per match, even if it has already used all its subs. The opponent then gets one extra substitute and one extra opportunity, and the replaced player can't return, even for penalties. The World Cup 26 and MLS both used this rule.

• College: a player showing signs of concussion, or bleeding, can be replaced without it counting as a substitution, and can return once cleared. A player diagnosed with a concussion can't return that day.
• US Youth Soccer national events: temporary substitutes for a concussion check don't count against the sub limit.

In any youth game, take a player with a possible head injury off right away and follow your league's concussion protocol before they play again.

World Cup substitution rules

The FIFA World Cup 26 allowed 5 substitutes in 3 opportunities, plus half-time. In extra time, each team got 1 more substitute and 1 more opportunity. A permanent concussion substitute was also allowed, which gave the other team an extra regular sub. Teams named up to 15 substitutes. A team in a knockout game with extra time and a concussion could use up to 7 subs in all.

Youth soccer substitution rules and "everyone plays"

Youth rules focus on sharing playing time:

• US Soccer (small-sided standards): unlimited subs, and every player should play at least 50% of each game. That is a recommendation, not a requirement.
• AYSO "Everyone Plays": every player must play at least half of every game, not counting overtime. A player who arrives during the second or third quarter must play at least one quarter. Regions may set stricter rules.
• US Youth Soccer national championships: 13U–14U have unlimited subs over three moments per half plus halftime; 15U–19U have four moments per match plus halftime. The Presidents Cup allows unlimited subs.

Your league may use its own version, so check. For rotation patterns that meet these rules, see our youth soccer substitution strategy guide.

Futsal substitution rules

Futsal uses unlimited "flying" substitutions. Players can change at any time, with the ball in or out of play, except during a timeout, and no referee permission is needed. Each team uses a 5-meter substitution zone in front of its bench; the player coming off must leave before the substitute enters. In official competitions a team can use up to 9 substitutes. Indoor arena leagues write their own rules.