{
  "id": "substitution-rules-faq",
  "type": "faq",
  "name": "Substitution rules FAQ",
  "summary": "The substitution questions actually asked, answered from the 2026/27 texts of Laws 3 and 10: how many changes are allowed, the three-window limit, extra time, return substitutes, and who may take part in a penalty shoot-out.",
  "locale": "en",
  "tags": [
    "faq",
    "substitutions",
    "players",
    "laws-of-the-game"
  ],
  "relations": [
    {
      "rel": "answers_about",
      "target": "law-03-players"
    },
    {
      "rel": "governed_by",
      "target": "law-10-outcome-of-a-match"
    }
  ],
  "questions": [
    "How many substitutions are allowed?",
    "Do substitutions at half-time use up a window?",
    "Can a substituted player return to the pitch?",
    "Can a substituted player take part in a penalty shoot-out?",
    "What if a team has fewer than seven players left?"
  ],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": "c1",
      "text": "Top-level official competitions may allow up to five substitutes per team, used across a maximum of three substitution opportunities per team during the match, plus substitutions made at half-time, which do not count as an opportunity.",
      "sources": [
        "ifab-law-03-2026-27"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.94
    },
    {
      "id": "c2",
      "text": "Where extra time is played, unused substitutes and substitution opportunities carry over, and competition rules may allow one additional substitution opportunity in extra time.",
      "sources": [
        "ifab-law-03-2026-27"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.93
    },
    {
      "id": "c3",
      "text": "Return substitutions (a replaced player coming back on) are only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, subject to approval by the national association, confederation or FIFA.",
      "sources": [
        "ifab-law-03-2026-27"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.95
    },
    {
      "id": "c4",
      "text": "Only players who are on the field of play, or temporarily off it (injury, equipment adjustment, etc.), at the end of the match are eligible for kicks from the penalty mark; a player substituted off earlier is not eligible.",
      "sources": [
        "ifab-law-10-2026-27"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.94
    },
    {
      "id": "c5",
      "text": "A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.",
      "sources": [
        "ifab-law-03-2026-27"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.97
    }
  ],
  "takeaways": [],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "q": "How many substitutions are allowed?",
      "claim": "c1"
    },
    {
      "q": "Do substitutions at half-time use up a window?",
      "claim": "c1"
    },
    {
      "q": "Can a substituted player return to the pitch?",
      "claim": "c3"
    },
    {
      "q": "Can a substituted player take part in a penalty shoot-out?",
      "claim": "c4"
    },
    {
      "q": "What if a team has fewer than seven players left?",
      "claim": "c5"
    }
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "primary",
  "evidence": {
    "level": "industry_observation",
    "source_types": [
      "industry_observation"
    ]
  },
  "moat_flag": false,
  "winning_edge": "Collects the five substitution answers people actually search for in one place, each bound to the 2026/27 texts of Laws 3 and 10 instead of competition-specific folklore.",
  "confidence": 0.94,
  "last_verified": "2026-08-08",
  "body": "# Substitution rules FAQ\n\n**\"How many substitutions are allowed?\"** In top-level official\ncompetitions, up to five per team — but spent across at most three\nin-match substitution opportunities.\n\n**\"Do half-time changes use up a window?\"** No. Substitutions made at\nhalf-time do not count against the three opportunities.\n\n**\"What about extra time?\"** Unused substitutes and windows carry over,\nand competition rules may grant one extra window in extra time.\n\n**\"Can a substituted player come back on?\"** Only where return\nsubstitutions are permitted — youth, veterans, disability and grassroots\nfootball, with the association's approval. In professional football, no.\n\n**\"Can a substituted player take penalties in the shoot-out?\"** No. Only\nplayers on the field (or temporarily off it with permission) at the final\nwhistle are eligible for kicks from the penalty mark.\n\n**\"What if a team is down to six players?\"** The match cannot start or\ncontinue: seven is the minimum.",
  "canonical_url": "https://futbolatlas.app/k/substitution-rules-faq",
  "api_url": "https://futbolatlas.app/api/k/substitution-rules-faq.json",
  "jsonld": {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "name": "Substitution rules FAQ",
    "description": "The substitution questions actually asked, answered from the 2026/27 texts of Laws 3 and 10: how many changes are allowed, the three-window limit, extra time, return substitutes, and who may take part in a penalty shoot-out.",
    "url": "https://futbolatlas.app/k/substitution-rules-faq",
    "license": "https://spdx.org/licenses/CC-BY-4.0.html",
    "dateModified": "2026-08-08",
    "citation": [
      {
        "@type": "CreativeWork",
        "name": "Law 3 — The Players (Laws of the Game 2026/27)",
        "url": "https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/the-players/"
      },
      {
        "@type": "CreativeWork",
        "name": "Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27)",
        "url": "https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/determining-the-outcome-of-a-match/"
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    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "How many substitutions are allowed?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Top-level official competitions may allow up to five substitutes per team, used across a maximum of three substitution opportunities per team during the match, plus substitutions made at half-time, which do not count as an opportunity."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Do substitutions at half-time use up a window?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Top-level official competitions may allow up to five substitutes per team, used across a maximum of three substitution opportunities per team during the match, plus substitutions made at half-time, which do not count as an opportunity."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Can a substituted player return to the pitch?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Return substitutions (a replaced player coming back on) are only permitted in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football, subject to approval by the national association, confederation or FIFA."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Can a substituted player take part in a penalty shoot-out?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Only players who are on the field of play, or temporarily off it (injury, equipment adjustment, etc.), at the end of the match are eligible for kicks from the penalty mark; a player substituted off earlier is not eligible."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "What if a team has fewer than seven players left?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players."
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}